
          Recd Sept 3th Washington College, Lexington VA. Augt. 26th 1831. 
[Aui?] [Dec 600?]

Dear Sir,

I take the liberty of troubling you with an inquiry respecting a suitable person to file the vacant chair of Chemistry in this institution. The appointment is to be made on the 10th of Oct. next; If we have no individual in view whose qualifications are satisfactory. If [?] services may probably be obtained. Good chemists are rare in Virginia. A young man of uncommon promise if found of the physical sciences would suit us well, if his present attainments would enable him to go respectably through a course of elementary lectures [?] experiments, and his general character be [unexceptionable?].

Our chemical lectures should begin on the 1st of Feby. [?] continue 5 months. The salary for this chemical lectureship alone is $700. The professor if circumstances should render it expedient, might confine himself to this for a year or two; but for permanency we wish to have a professor on full duty through the college year. His department would embrace mechanics of physical science generally, so far as it may be taught in college. The fall salary is $800 [?] equal share of the tuition fees.
        