Polk Family Papers Box 9 Document 68

Va. Military Institute

Aug. 24. 1860

Rt. Rev. L. Polk,

Beersheba, Tenn.

My dear Bishop --

Your letter reached me as I was on my way to the White Sulpher Sp'r on {illegible: public? father?} duty. I had left the case of your son still undecided. His dismissal had had the effect to awaken him to some sense of the mortification which you had felt at his failure, & he had earnestly plead for another opportunity to present his excuses. These were {illegible} & entertained by the Academic Board my absence, the result being his {illegible: rather?} the {illegible} {illegible} to a member that has saved him & he has been accordingly ordered

to duty.

I cannot but hope that the result will be beneficial to him -- as all events if he does not now do better, he will have no one to blame but himself.

Your nephew has just {illegible}. He is a fine looking youth & I hope will do well.

I have just app'd a kins man of yours {illegible: JW?} Wm. Polk of Md. my chief clerk.

With my best wishes I remain -- vy Truly

Francis H Smith

{illegible}

P.S. The amt. of your remittance $200. will be placed to your son's credit. I had previously settled his {illegible: amt?} & paid him the balance remaining to his credit on his former {illegible}

FH

[ Francis Henney Smith,

1812 -- 1890 ]

Dismissal from V.M.I.