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(Letter from Bishop Polk to {scribbled over: Bishop} {handwritten: Mr} Rayner)

Beersheba Springs

Tennessee, July 30, I857

My dear Rayner,

I have not heard from you in an age.
How are you occupying yourself. I gave a young gentleman a
l{marked through: a}tter to you who went recently to Raleigh & he reported you{struckthrough: r}
absen{struckthrough: ce}, I suppose at your place in Hertford.

I have endeavored to keep you advised
of the progress of my scheme for founding an Oxford, or a
Gottengen, or a Bonn, or three all combined. I am at it very
steadily, & thus far very successfully. You will have seen in
the papers a notice of our meeting on the 4th. It was a glorious
day, & fixed the success. I refer you to the account in the{underlined}
Church{underlined} Journal{underlined} of New York shortly to be published. I am resolved,
with the help of God, that this thing shall be felt by the Church
& the State. I am sure that the tone of the address of Otey
our {checkmark} & orator on the occasion of the organization will
satisfy you, & all thoroughly. I
will send you a copy on its appearance. Your No. Car. people
Dr. Warren & Rev. Mr. Curtis were highly pleased. All the dioceses
were represented & we had a glorious time.

I understand Paul C {checkmark} is afraid it
will injure Chapel Hill . I am afraid Paul is more concerned
at the prospect of an injury to his pocket. But we shall give
all these good gentlemen who are accustomed to indulge in gab
about the{underlined} South{underlined} a chance to show their hands. We shall see what
they mean when they cry "down with the Abolitionist & up with
Negroedom".