SEMINARY, June 28,
1860.
. . . Last week I
dismissed summarily two cadets of good families and large connexions. One has
appealed to the Board of Supervisors who may be weak enough to yield to such
influence. And if they do it will severely weaken my power and influence and
may shake my faith in my hold on their confidence. They meet on Saturday. This
is Thursday and I will then see whether I am to govern here or be governed by
the cast off boys of rich planters.
So well impressed
are all gentlemen here of the necessity of some restraint on the boys, who have
been indulged at home to an unlimited extent, that I doubt not they will
approve my acts, but like all deliberative bodies they may take some half way
course and recommend me to receive them back on their promising reformation. I
will not do so unless they command me, which they have a right to do.
We will celebrate
the 4th of July by a cadet oration and Declaration of Independence, etc., and
our examination July 30 and 31 will be celebrated by a large attendance.
The weather has been
warm but never as warm as at St. Louis or in Ohio. The summers here are long,
but the proximity to the sea gives us the same air as we felt off Cuba which I
think perfect. Indeed I don't object to the summers here. All are well and
healthy and there is no apprehension of epidemic. These always originate in New
Orleans and spread by the steamboats so that here they always have full warning
and can take due precaution. Take the year all round this must be a healthy
place.
The only drawbacks
and they are serious are servants and marketing. All here own their slaves and
there are properly speaking no servants for hire. White girls or boys will not
come from New Orleans though in time they may. All groceries and meats must
come from New Orleans – the grass is so poor that sheep and cattle are
skeletons and milk exceedingly scarce. Goat milk will be better. This year the
drought has been unbearable destroying all gardens, but the season is so long
that they can plant two or three times. The soil on the river bottom is very
perfect, here in the pine hills as poor as poverty itself. Still by care we can
make lettuce, potatoes sweet and Irish, beans, peas and such things when the
season favors. There are no market gardens; the negro slaves have small patches
which they are allowed to cultivate and sell off – but these are all on the
other side of the river. . .
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