80 EARLY UNDERTAKINGS. [1838, 



will be the prettiest possible place for a residence. 

 But I must reserve all particulars until I see you, if I 

 am allowed tbat pleasure ; for although there is an at- 

 tempt to keep me here until after the arrival of Mr. 

 Davis, the architect, who is to be here in about ten days, 

 yet I am anxious, deeply anxious, to get back again. If 

 I wait his arrival I shall necessarily be detained here 

 until about the 10th of September. It would be desir- 

 able on many accounts, but — I don't mean to stay. 



The grounds for the university are very prettily 

 situated. The only possible fault I can imagine is 

 that they are too level. I have contrived a plan for 

 the arrangement of the grounds which gives satisfac- 

 tion to the members of the board here, and I think 

 will suit all. I brought letters to Chief Justice 

 Fletcher and Judge Wilkins. I spent the evening at 

 Dr. Denton's, one of the regents, with several gentle- 

 men and ladies, married and unmarried. It having 

 been ascertained that I was unmarried, it was sug- 

 gested that I might possibly lose my heart ; but I assure 

 you I was never in less danger. On Sunday attended 

 the Presbyterian church here. The pastor, an amiable 

 and very pious old man, was to preach his last sermon 

 to-day, the peojDle having grown too wise for their 

 teachers. His morning discourse from the text, 

 " Christ commended his love to us in that while we 

 were yet sinners, " etc., — a very good sermon. In the 

 afternoon his farewell discourse was from Acts xx. 32, 

 and did honor to his heart. (The stage is ready.) 

 At twilight I in fancy transported myself to 30 Mac- 

 Dougal Street, where yourself, the doctor, and the 

 children were singing your evening hymns. I sang to 

 myself, as well as I could, all the hymns you were 

 singing, as I supposed, and wished myself with you. 



