229

Tomes, Son & Melbain{? Melvain?},

NO. 6 MAIDEN LANE,

New York, September 13th 1860.

Rt Rev'd Jas H Otey. D.D. &c.

Beersheba Springs,

Tenn:

My dear Bishop

I beg to thank you for your kind invitation
to be present at the laying of the Corner Stone of the University
of the South, which I should take great pleasure in accepting
if it were not more urgent calls require my presence here
about that time -- in truth, my wife expecting to be confined
during that month. I am sorry I am prevented for it
would have been a good opportunity to escort Henrietta
home & I am very desirous of visiting our coal property which
is now in charge of my personal friend Mr John {illegible: Jochnurs?}
as managing director of the Tenn: Coal. Co. who is a
gentleman in every sense of the word, & whose acquaintance
I would only be too glad to hear you had made --
Mr Tracy although a Director (by name) in our company
has been trying with ill success to defeat every project we un-
dertake, but with one exception our directors are in every
way the first merchants in N.Y. & gentlemen of undoubted
integrity & honesty of purpose. Give my kind love to Henrietta
& the children & with kindest regards to Mrs Otey & {illegible} {illegible}
believe me Dear Bishop, very truly yours,

Benj{?} Tomes.