ENPages
6
(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".
7
(Letter from Bishop Polk to {struckthrough: Bishop} {handwritten: Mr} Rayner)
-2-
I believe it will do more to compose & reconcile the national{underlined} feeling{underlined} through{underlined} the{underlined} Church{underlined} than any thing or all things together that Episcopalians have attempted heretofore {checkmark} as a section a position from the possession of such an Educational resource, which will assure to us a respectability & influence of more consequence than all sectional political combinations.
I am happy to say a spirit of enlightened & liberal patriotism seems to animate those who are chiefly interested, & we have reason to believe, that we shall not want the means as we do not lack the men, to carry this thing steadily & quie{"k" replaced with "t"}ly to its ultimate consummation.
My wife & two oldest girls & two youngest children are with me. I have been in the mountains since the Ist June, they came after. We are having a charming time. These springs are now highly improved, are on the top of the Cumberland mountains. We have stirred up a large number of N. O. & La. people to come up here in connection with our enterprise & to make a summer retreat nearer home. This place being on top of the mountain the water & air are charming. Our {checkmark} is the best in the south, La. Miss. Ala. Geo. Flo. &c. {struckthrough: 7}c.
Give my love to Sue & your young ones. We shall go to Maury for some weeks before going home.
Very truly yours
Leonidas Polk