Vault Early Papers of the University Box 2 Document 3

Mobile Feby 9: 1860 --

To the

Trustees of the University of the South

Gentlemen:

On behalf of the heirs of the late {illegible: D?} G Troost of Nashville, Tenn, I propose to sell to the University of the South his cabinet of Minerals and Geological specimens for twenty thousand dollars, payable in the notes of the University, properly secured, maturing in ten, fifteen or twenty years, with interest at six per cent per annum payable semiannually, on condition that it shall be preserved and known as the "Troost Cabinet".

Should you be disposed to make the purchase it will give me pleasure to arrange with you for the examination of the collection by competent author =ity. It has been pronounced by good judges to be one of the best extant, and is the result of forty five years labor of my father.

Very respectfully

Your obt servt

Lewis Troost

Bishop {illegible}

Dear Sir

My friend Mr Lewis Troost handed me the inclosed letter with a request that I would lay it before your Board -- I take the liberty of doing so & think the subject worthy of deliberation -- very respectfully

& truly yours

J. C. {illegible: Mott? Nott?}