419

Rosedale. La. Sep 29. 1860

The Right Reverend

J. H. Otey

Bishop of Tennessee

Chairman of Ex Com of Univ of the South

Right Rev'd & Dear Sir

I beg gratefully
to acknowledge having {illegible: secured? received?} an in=
vitation from you to be present at the lay=
ing of the Corner Stone of the Univ'ty of the South
& in reply to express my regret that
my duties in my Parish will not permit
me to avail myself of your kindness
however greatly I might desire {crossthrough: it} to do.
so. Praying that the work which you
are about to inaugurate may be carried
to a successful completion by God's favor