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Oakendale April 2nd 1831

Dear Dossay
Your truly acceptable letter of the 5th Ult. was received some days since, and afforded
no little pleasure to the dwellers at Oakendale Hall. We were no less pleased at the information
which it contained, than at its style and execution. We think it stands in no need of the apology, which
you make for it, as many a worse letter has been written by persons who had enjoyed much better
means of education than has fallen to your lot. Without intending any undue praise, we
say without flattery, that we were highly gratified at this specimen of your talent in epistolary
writing. -- In my present communication, I cannot promise you any matter of news. A
letter despatched from this place a few days ago by Lucy to Richard, has completely monopolized
the news department and to that I must refer you. I design this epistle as a conclusion
of the account of my Northern trip, and as a detailed exposition of the scheme which
was hinted at in Lucy's letter to Richard. - Let us return then to the City of New York
where I believe I left you at the conclusion of my last letter. The only other objects of
any interest that I visited during my stay in the City was the meeting of the Literary convention
in the City Hall, the Park Theatre and the Catholic Church. It having been contemplated
to establish an university in the City of New York, those interested in the proposed
institution thought it desirable to have all the information possible on so
interesting a subject. For that purpose a convention of all the most distinguished
literary characters in the adjoining states was suggested, and accordingly invitations
were given to that effect. The convention had assembled and was sitting at the
time of my arrival in the City. I heard it spoken of, and gladly availed myself
of the opportunity of seeing the Northern literati & of hearing their discussions. The
day of my visit to the meeting was the last day of its session. There had been
several very interesting debates on the previous days, but the subject discussed on the
last day was one proposed by Albert Gallatin of Pennsylvania and attracted great
attention. It was whether in the proposed university there should not be a course
of studies prescribed, in which the dead languages should form no part, but which
yet should entitle the student to a collegiate degree. Mr. Gallatin had left
New York that morning so that I missed the pleasure of seeing & hearing him.
Dr Gallaudet, Instructor of the Deaf & Dumb Asylum, opened the debate, and
in one of the most lucid and satisfactory arguments I ever heard, advocated
the propriety of such a plan. He was replyed to by several presidents and
professors of colleges, who thought the Latin & Greek languages a sine qua
non in all collegiate institutions. Dr. Gallaudet was supported by only
one member Dr Mason President of Geneva Colledge New York. If I mistake
not the debate resulted in a vote that there should be an enquiry into
the propriety of such a measure. I should have mentioned that previous to the commencement
of this debate, Mr. Perdicari, Professor of Greek in Cambridge Colledge, a
native of Greece, made a very handsome address to the convention on the subject