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1860, May 7
The Rt. Rev. William Mercer Green, Mississippi, to Bishop Polk, re: giving the names of the Trustees elected by his Convention, stating their merits; lamenting the death of George Yerger; his desire to know what has been done in the interest of the Univ. in the way of subscriptions, hoping that their intent to raise $40,000 to complete their Episcopal fund would not interfere with the subscriptions in the Diocese of Miss.; his plans to go to Bolivar, stating that he would call on Hamilton; enclosure of a letter of dismissal. 3 pp. (Photostat copy).
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May 7 1860
Rt. Rev. L. Polk D.D.
My dear Brother
I scratch a line in haste to give you the names of the Trustees elected by our late Convention -- Rev. W. [Crane?], Thos Staunton of Natchez, and Dr. Thos. B. Magruider near Port-Gibson.
I regard Mr. [Crane?] as the best choice we could have made from among the Clergy. Stuanton is quite a young man but is well-educated, very wealthy, a pious Communicant and is said by his Pastor to be a warm advocate of the University. D.M. is a most worthy man, a truly pious and zealous member of our Church, and one who trains his family & household in the nurture of the Lord; but he is without wealth and influence; nor has he that particular standing which is calculated to give [eclat?] to our enterprise. Mr. Smedes declined an election on the ground of multiple engagements which would be likely for some time to prevent his attending any of our meetings. And Geo. M.W. was regarded as too dutiful a friend to be thrust into the place without previous notification &c.
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Bishop's Place Miss. Mr. James D. Stewart (W. [?] Son-in-law, and one of our Bankers) was appointed our University Treasurer, an excellent appointment. Oh what a loss we have all sustained in the death of that best and most useful of men--George [Yerger?]! How mysterious are such visitations! And yet faith teaches us that they are all have done most wisely. If you were amongst us you would see a stricken & mourning Diocese mingling its tear with a bereaved family! How much, and how often did we miss him in our late Convention. He was our right-arm, our Leader in all that was for God, and one whom all delighted to follow. I feel as if my strongest staff had snapped suddenly under me, because I had come to lean too heavily and confidently upon it. His wife is still bowed to the earth under the blow. For some days fears were entertained both for her reason and her life. I am glad to learn that notwithstanding his lifelong prodigality in giving to everyone and to every good cause, he leaves a handsome and [?] estate.
Do let me have a line from you. I long to know what you & Elliott have been doing since we parted. I know that you have not been idle; but knowing as I do that all of our
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future depends now, under God on the success of yr Subscription list. I can not but feel anxious to hear what has been done. In my Address to my Convention I ventured to state that about $600,000 had been subscribed. I was somewhat in hopes that your Commissions would ere this have made an [?] into this State. It is now too late for this reason, as few Mississippians (Bp. not excepted) have a dollar in their pockets or think themselves worth a dollar from May to Nov. inclusive. The only important moment of our late Convention was a determination to raise $45,000 within the next twelve months to inflate our Episcopal Fund. This may interfere some what with yr Subscription list- I hope not. --
On Friday I set out to visit Washington, Bolivar & Coahoma Counties. Of course I intend to call on Hamilton. How pleased would I be to meet you there.
Within you will find an acknowledgement of Dr. Lacey's "Letters [?]". Altho dated several months ago, they reached me only a few days since. Tho D can not fail to do well if he will only be a little more patient, and hold on hopefully. I long to hear how Mrs. Polk is. Has she improved any in the matter of eyesight? My kind regards to her & all the family.
Yrs very truly in X W.M. Green