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I am Very Respy
Yr obt svt
Geo. R. Fairbanks
Gen'l Agt, etc

Messrs Hyatt & McBurney
Charleston S.C.

LETTER OF NOVEMBER 17, 1868
(George Fairbanks to Messrs Hyatt, McBurney & Co.)

University Place Tenn Nov 17 1868

Gent.
I am in rec't of your favor of [blank]. I assure you it is from no want of disposition that your claim has remained so long unadjusted.

At the close of the War the scheme of the University seemed hopelessly overwhelmed. Nothing was left but a few tousand acres of mountain land, which was almost valueless if we did not go on, and would revert to the donors. Impressed with the importance of reviving it if possible, the young and courageous Bishop of Tennessee put our shoulders to the wheel, hoping to revive public interest in it, and that our unfortunate and devastated country would revive. What that course of events has been, you well know.

Hopeless of obtaining any thing at home, the Bishop remained in England last winter and [page 2] raised a few thousand dollars by great exertion and in small sums to enable us to put up some plain buildings to open the School. This money was given for this especial purpose and we were precluded from applying to any other, and it has proved not sufficient for that. To save our land from forfeiture, we were obliged to begin in Sept last, and have opened the Junior Department with a few boys and hope to gradually increase and build it up. If we stop, our lands revert to the donors. We desire to re-establish public condifence in our future success and hope that our original subscribers will agree to pay their subscriptions or at least the interest of them; and any thing we can raise out of our old subscriptions or investments we design to appropriate to the liquidation of our debts (which are not large).

A special effort to do this will be made this winter by our Bishops, and I trust we may realise enough to pay your claim in whole or in part.

[Page 3] You will see by the papers I send with this effort now being made. We need funds to finish our buildings and to get under way, and I am satisfied that once well-established our Institution will be success. We feel grateful for your past patience and trust that you will under the circumstances