
          Answered Dec. 2nd
Weslyan University
Middletown, Ct.
Nov. 4, 1839.

Dear Sir,

Prof. Shepard of New Haven
was expected to deliver an address before the
Cuvierian Society of the Weslyan University at our
late commencement but he was obliged to 
relinquish it in consequence of his sailing for 
Europe about the same time and having no
substitute we failed of having any address. In
order to avoid a similar occurance again it has
been proposed to adopt the plan pursued by
many associations of a similar character and
appoint a substitute who may be prepared
should the regular appointee fail but who if he
should perform, should be considered the regular
orator for the succeeding year.  Prof. Shepard, it
is hoped may be able to give us next year the
address it is supposed he had partly at least
prepared for our late anniversary but it is not
certain and the subscribers or a committee of
the Society would be pleased to know whether if he
should fail [added: at the next commencement] it would be convenient for you to
honor us with an address or if otherwise to give
it to us at our succeeding commencement!
The address has usually been delivered
        