Seminary, Jan. 24, i860.
. . . Things along here about as I expected. We have had
many visitors – ladies with children, who part with them with tears and
blessings, and I remark the fact that the dullest boys have the most affectionate
mothers, and the most vicious boys come recommended with all the virtues of
saints. Of course I promise to be a father to them all.
We now have fifty-one and the reputation of the order,
system, and discipline is already spreading and I receive daily letters asking
innumerable questions. The legislature also has met and the outgoing Governor
Wickcliffe has recommended us to the special attention of the legislature, and
a bill is already introduced to give us $25,000 a year for two years, which is
as long as the legislature can appropriate. I think from appearances this bill
will pass, in which case we can erect two professors' houses this summer.
This sum of money will enable us to make a splendid place of
this. In addition it is also proposed to make this an arsenal of deposit, which
will increase its importance and enable me to avoid all teaching which I want
to do, confining myself exclusively to the supervision and management. Thus far
not a soul has breathed a syllable about abolitionism to me. One or two have
asked me if I were related to the gentleman of same name whose name figures so
conspicuously in Congress. I of course say he is my brother, which generally
amazes them because they regard him as awful bad. . .
Professor Smith and Boyd are very clever gentlemen and so
are Vallas and St. Ange but these are foreigners with their peculiarities. We
have also a Dr. Sevier here, of Tennessee, a rough sort of fellow but a pretty
fair sort of man. . .
SOURCE: Walter L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman
as College President, p. 127-8
