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Raleigh July 16th 1859

My Dear Sir,

Your letter from Beersheba Springs has been forwarded from Hillsborough & has just reached me at this place, where I have been for the last six weeks, holding court. I am sorry to inform you that I shall be engaged in like manner for the next six or seven weeks. So, you see, it is impossible for me to join the assemblage of trustees of The University of the South on the 10th of next month. Although I felt much interest in the establishment of such an Institution & deemed it a high honor to be associated with a body so as [trustable?] & [reverend?] as the Bishops & most earnest & intelligent of the Clergy & Laity of our Church, yet I [regretted?] from the beginning my nomination to the body of Trustees, as I could promise it so little "material" aid, & [can't?] with hope to be of much use in Council, both for want of experience on such subjects & also of opportunity to attend the meetings of the Board. Having been again called to the Bench last winter, my former head on hopes of usefullness with you vanished altogether; and I begged Dr. Curtis, when he went to Convention - which I could not attend - to have me left off. He failed to do it, & gave for excuse, that he did not know whom to put in my place! - These [facts?], I give, because I hope you will never think me willfully in [or fault?] with respect to my [ating?] to the Church or Letters, and I wish to let you have some ground for the good opinion I [coach?]. I sincerely rejoice at the success in the collection of funds & hope that future efforts will be as well rewarded as the past. I wish very much I could join you, & I would, were it possible. I beg you to tender my respectful acknowledgments to Mr. Armfield & to forward my highest considerations to the Bishops & Clergy, and to each assured of the rest & warmest regards of, Dear Sir,

Your friend verily kindly,

Thomas Ruffin