1

Copies of
Letters from M. F. Maury to Bishop Green in Fairbanks-Glass collection.

3 Belsise Square
London, N.W.
21st April 1868.

Sir

Your letter of the 2nd inst communicating the action of the Board of Trustees
with regard to the Vice Chancellorship of the University of the South has been
read - & maturely considered (no period)

You have kindly sketched in general outline the condition & duties which
the Board propose to connect with the office. I fear I have not the ability to
satisfy these & therefore with many thanks to yourself and colleagues I feel
myself constrained to decline the responsibilities of your Vice Chancellor[ship].

I have the honor to be
Respf etc etc Your Obt Servant
M F Maury

Rt Rev
W M Greene (sic)
Bishop of Miss
Chancellor of University of the South

*********

3 Belsise Square
London N.W.
21st April 1868

My dear Bishop.

It is proper - considering how much our hearts are set upon the University
that I should mention to you in little more detail at least the chief one
of the reasons which induced me to decline the honor that the Board of Trustees
have so kindly tendered[d].

The Board appear to think of me more highly than I deserve--for I am not
possessed of the ability required to take charge of the Junior Dept proposed,
to organize it - to perform the duties of a professor in it & then find time to plead
the cause of the University as it ought to be pleaded, before the public - which last
I suppose to be one of the main objects for which a Vice Chancellor is at this time
required.

Only think of the work that is chalked out for your ViceChancellor.

With everything new -- preparations are to be made for receiving 160 boys
in September, & when they come together--they, teachers, & lodging house keepers
will find themselves for the most part to be strangers to each other.
It will require time, tact, and judgment, with close attention to bring such
materials into harmonious relations & good working order--- This being done--new duties
will have devolved on the ViceChancellor. He will have to act both as Head
Master - & teacher the result would be at least to me who have a little
experience as teacher, that the Head Master would engross everything & leave
the Vice Chancellor [wh] little time for anything. Moreover I am afraid I should
turn out to be an indifferent Head Master.

The objections to this part of the plan are paramount & and it is therefore
needless to allude to anything to minor importance which would interfere & give
me pause before incurring such high responsibility as acceptance would entail.

Wishing the University all success & for my dear Bishop every happiness I am
truly

Yours

(same salutation)M F Maury On back: Copy of Com Maury's letter to Bp Greene