183

Van Buren Arkansas

Sept'r 27. 1860

Rt. Rev'd. & Dear Sir

I am just in receipt
of your invitation to the laying
of the corner stone of the Univ:
of the South. It would indeed
afford me great pleasure in being
present and I would certainly
avail myself of your considerate
invitation were not the Arkansas
River so extremely low that
travelling is not only uncertain
but next to impossible.

I remain,

Dear Sir

Your obed't servant

William Brines{?}

Rt. Rev'd. J. H. Otey

Tennessee