July 30th 1862.
Revd Charles Raymond
My dear friend. I thank you very Kindly for
your valued favor of the 15th current Your sugges-
tions concerning the plan of organization of officials
in the V. F. College are deserving much attention and
the more I have reflected and studied them the more
they have commended themselves to my judgment and
approbation &c
I now specially allude to the Office of Vice President,
but hope that the discussion of this question or any
other between you and me on the subject of the or-
ganization of the College or its discipline, may be ex-
amined and freely discussed independent of any sinister
motives, and candor impels me to say and acknowledge
that thus far you have evinced the utmost impartiality
and unselfishness. It is now however a proper time for
me to express my private thoughts, therefore I assume
the authority to express them that I know of no man
whom in my judgment could fill the place of the V. P.
better than yourself nor one in whom I could most
cheerfully concur in that appointment and after writ-
ing out my views somewhat in detail on this subject to
our President Prof. Jewett in my last letter, I thus
signified my opinion and my wishes. However this
matter must now remain open for further reflection
and action untill Prof. Jewett return when we shall
take it up again, and within the present year may be
able to make you a proposition that will meet your en-
tire approbationmy reasons I shall assign for advo-
cating your appointment to that department in the Col-
lege that the " Suggestion " of such an office first came
from you, Secondly, that your large experience in Fe-
male Education entitles your opinion and judgment to
more than ordinary consideration. There is a philoso-
phy common to us business men, never to loose a good
paying customer, we often Classify on our Ledger our
patrons, to the poor paying ones we are always short of
the article, to the good paying ones never. Now ap-
ply this rule to our College working plans of Teachers
124
$ ifim/r
July 30, 1862
- 2
there are those who are not only qualified to teach but
can exert an influence in the Institution more than
equivalent to the compensation they may receive, for
I hold it to be a demonstrative fact that if our College
rise to meet the public largest claims and expectations
it will be through its moral and religious aspect rather
than its intellectual, for as you justly remark, we have
had experience enough in the latter " Good general
theories of education are good as far as they go, but
we want more practical life invigorating Knowledge
specimens of which may here and there be seen altho'
not a graft or scion from a College or a University
Stock. I need not however extend my remarks on this
subject your experience of 18 years to the Profession
of teaching " Young ideas how to shoot" will amply
qualify you to judge collectively about such matters,
and I am happy to think that my friend Mr Raymond
have not only a supply of the comodity (of good Tui-
tion) but know how to impart it. Now, I am ready
for a " Barter of your Wares " they will allways be
needed and you have an abundant supply, and the Col-
lege has the means for exchange of Comodities with
you, besides they have Scites on which to erect com-
fortable residences for their Professorsthis last sug-
gestion I am also indebted to you for, by the adoption
of which much room would be saved in the College
buildings for subordinate Instructors, Pupils &c be-
sides surrounding the College and Grounds with a
cordon of defences both of ingress and egress against
intruders on the premises, but I have already extended
these remarks beyond my original object, which was
simply to acknowledge your favor, leaving all com-
ments for a private interview. We shall be happy to
see you when convenient with your friends. With my
best regards to Mrs R. and the new Stranger.
I remain dear Sir Yours truly
125
2Ji'i