LETTER TO HON. ROBERT Y. HAYNE. 297 



the Board, but I have the sanction of Governor McDuffie 

 and General Hamilton for saying, that we should not only 

 support you ourselves, but we have no doubt that, should 

 you consent, the trustees would elect you without hesitation. 

 I write this confidentially, because it may happen that you 

 would not desire (even should you be willing to be a can 

 didate for the office) that it should be publicly known, with 

 reference to your present situation. I shall be much grati 

 fied to hear from you on this subject, and also to have the 

 names of suitable persons suggested for the other vacant 

 offices in the College. I am, very respectfully, 



Your obedient servant, 

 PROFESSOR SILLIMAN. ROBERT Y. HAYNE. 



TO HON. ROBERT Y. HAYNE. 



YALE COLLEGE, February 2, 1835. 



DEAR SIR, I have taken a few days to consider the 

 very important subject which you have done me the honor 

 to lay before me, and trust I have not trangressed the lim 

 its of propriety in consulting a very small number of trust 

 worthy friends immediately around me. While J feel much 

 gratified by the favorable opinion which you and the emi 

 nent gentlemen, your associates in this affair, are so kind as 

 to entertain of me, it is but candid to say that I cannot dis 

 cover good ground of confidence in myself, that I should be 

 able to answer the reasonable expectations of your commu 

 nity. Having from a very early period corresponded with 

 several gentlemen in the faculty of your University, and 

 with others interested in promoting its welfare, it will give 

 me pleasure still to exert myself for that object. I will 

 therefore keep in mind the vacant offices, and should the 

 names of any persons qualified to fill them occur to me, I 

 will, with your permission, communicate them to you. I 

 remain, most respectfully, your 



Very obedient servant, 



HON. ROBT. Y. HAYNE. B. SILLIMAN. 



