SEMINARY, July 6,
1860.
DEAR GENERAL: I have
received your note of yesterday with Colonel Bragg's letter which I have read
with great satisfaction. I had written him some ten days ago urging him to come
up if possible at our examinations. I had no knowledge of course that he had
been invited to deliver an address. I think that will tempt him. He writes, as
you know, well and can speak his thoughts clearly and with emphasis, the best
kind of oratory, still I don't think he has an ambition to be styled an orator.
Still if he do
accept I will be more than pleased. Though it will not be reasonable to expect
too much of us at our first examination, yet if the professors will use some
little discretion I have no doubt we can satisfy all. As you will have learned
our 4th passed off well. Not a particle of noise, disorder, or confusion.
Everyone played his part modestly and well.
As our examinations
will consume two whole days and nights and as our benches have no backs, I have
taken the liberty to order twelve dozen chairs not to cost more than twelve
dollars the dozen, from New Orleans. I could not procure with any certainty the
hide bottoms and have ordered wood bottoms — similar to our mess hall chairs,
which have lasted well, not one broken yet. These chairs will do to sell to
cadets next term. I am fully authorized to do this by a resolution of the
Board, yet I should have procured your sanction first; but I was not convinced
of the pressing necessity till I experienced the necessity. I will have them in
time for the examination.
I have never been to
Bayou Robert since my first arrival and propose to-day to go down to visit
Governor Moore, Colonel Chambers, Mr. Ransdell, General Bailey, etc., start
this p.m. and return to-morrow. Governor Moore sent a fine lot of cake for the
cadets and a basket of wine for the professors. The former was added to their
stock and enabled them to set a nice table for the ladies. The wine is
untouched and I hardly know how to dispose of it. I think it prudent we should
exhibit as little wine as possible in our rooms or table. I have always paid
and advised the professors to pay largely toward the general hospitality, and
thus far we have done so without wines, except claret. Work on house, fence,
road, etc., progressing fast and I hope you will get notice of the
appropriations for houses and apparatus before examination.
I send you Bragg's
letter and would write him again if I thought his time would admit of his
receiving my letter. But he will have decided before I could get my letter
to him. If he do not speak, some member of the Board [must speak]. I have
official notice of twenty-five state cadets, none from New Orleans yet.
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