I have perus’d the papers you put into my hands with great satisfaction, and much sincere admiration of that philanthropic spirit, which could lead you, amidst the interruptions of pain and sickness, still to devote so much time and labour, for the benefit of a world in the transaction[s] of which, you now unhappily can take so little part.

I trust these papers will not fail to promote a reformation, in our system of education; which in my opinion is second only in importance, to a due regulation of our government. You have clearly demonstrated, that the changes we call for, are not only founded in Justice but in policy, and that to adopt them, would be to return to the true constitution of the College, not to deviate from it. I flatter myself therefore that with the support of your authority, and of the right you possess as an original founder to be heard with attention, your representation will accomplish the object we have in view.

If there is any part of the performance, on which I should venture to entertain a doubtful opinion, it is the claim for a separa[tion] of the English School, from the jurisdiction of the Provost and Faculty of the College. This wou[ld] certainly be the most radical cure for the evils we complain of, but I fully believe from the discourse of the Trustees, and other persons, on this subject, that such a measure is not practicable at this time. The services rendered by the present Provost, the prejudices entertain’d by many of the trustees in his favor, his active indefatigable character when engag[ing] in measures on which he is intent, and the support he would receive from the friends of the other professors, serve to convince me that this object cannot now be accompli[shed] and that to attempt it in the present state of things, would only add force to the exertions of the adverse party, by giving them two moti[ves] for opposition instead of one. But although I conceive that such a separation could not now be accomplish’d, and that a real attempt m[ight] not be eligible, I believe that it is prudent to hold it up in terrorem, and that much benefit has already accrued from the mention of it.

Of consequence if I might express a wish upon this subject, it would be that your papers should state in strong terms, the justice of the claim to a separation, if the English system is not adopted and adher’d to, but should avoid urging that claim at this time. I am sensible that a present acquiescence of the trustees and provost, will afford but a frail security, for the permanence of any regulations which may now be procur’d[,] but it is not on this ground I rest my hopes—it is on public opinion, which appears to me to have undergone a revolution on this subject within my memory, and to be undoubtedly in favor of an English Education, in spite of the prejudices of the learned on this subject. By a due use of this support, I believe that the friends to the propos’d system may secure a duration to it when establishd; without it, the reformation would avail but little, for the schools would not be supported. My great wish is therefore to bring forward and establish this support; for which reason, I am no less desirous to agitate the subject with the Public, than with the Board of Trustees. From he[re] I am led to hope that your papers may be printed, by which they will not only be mo[re] effectually communicated to all the Trustees, [but] will remain as a standing testimony against both present and future deviations from the [true] spirit of the Institution. But to accomplish this effectually I apprehend that they should be printed in a pamphlet, for if publish[’d] a disjointed way, much of their effect wo[uld] be unavoidably lost, both as to the force and permanence of the observations containd [in] them.

I hope you will pardon the liberty I have taken in making these observations, to which I have been led, by my desire to see the reformation you have in view thoroughly effected, as well as by a presumption, that in committing the pa[pers] to my hands, you meant to authorize me to comment upon them. I have put [my] remarks upon paper, because I have reason to believe that in the present state of y[our] health, visits prove frequently inconven[ient] to you. But should you wish to see me I shall wait upon you with pleasure at any hour you may appoint. I am Sir with much respect Your very obedient Servant