I have just received a letter from you by
Mr Otto
requesting information
respecting my present employment and expectations. I am still unsettled in the
world, tho' I have passed thro' most of the time I allotted for obtaining a
profession. It has been my purpose for sometime past to apply for license in the
ministry next spring. This, however, is an event perfectly at my own discretion.
And I am unable yet to say how far your letter may influence my decision. I have
been two years and an half studying divinity, and if I had chosen might have
requested license some time ago. I am now employed in the business of tutor in
this college. I commenced a year from the present date. I should feel myself so
diffident with respect to the duties of a teacher of mathematics that I should
scarcely know how to venture the responsibility of such an office, were it not
that I had some time since an opportunity of becoming acquainted in some measure
with my strength. And tho' I still apprehend that I do not possess the
qualifications requisite to such an office, I believe I should be able to
prepare myself with assiduity and attention. I wish to receive further
information of the situation of affairs, before I form or express an opinion. To
know the several offices [of the]
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University and
the names of those who fill them, the buildings that belong to it, & the
conditions of the funds, if there are any, the classes and number of students in
each, under what regulations the students are at present and whether on the
whole you think the labor of teaching, fatiguing and oppressive. I wish you to
mention also the expenses and whether the country and situation is healthy. By
being so particular in my enquiries, I would not have you imagine that I would
expect to be accommodated in the best manner with everything that is agreeable
and convenient. But as I am almost entirely ignorant on all the subjects, I have
enumerated, that I may form any determination at all it will be necessary that I
be able in some degree to estimate them. You know the advantages my present
station possesses, and therefore will easily conceive that it would be by no
means wise to barter them away for an uncertainty.
Mr Hobart
is my colleague, and tho' I have not the happiness of a personal or intimate
acquaintance with him, yet I have the satisfaction of being assured that I may
rely without reserve on every information you may offer, and that you or those
with whom you are connected may not want the same advantages of information on
your side,
Dr Smith
,
Dr Minto
or any of the people of
Princeton in whom you are willing to confide, will no doubt give you
every information you may ask. I ought now to mention that it will not by any
means
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be convenient for me to leave this place
till next fall after commencement. From your own knowledge of affairs here, you
will be able to judge the reason of this.