1

Van Buren Arkansas
Septm 27. 1860

Rt Revd & Dear Sir

I am just in receipt
of your invitation to the laying
of the corner stone of the Unvs:
of the South. It would indeed
afford me great pleasure in being
present and I would certainly
avail myself of your considerate
invitation were not the Arkansas
river so extremely low that
travelling is not only uncertain
but next to impossible

I remain
Dear Sir
Your obedt Servant
William B[ines?]

Rt Revd J. H. Otey
Tennessee