2

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 par-
ticular 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.