John Augustine Smith to Nicholas P. Trist
| Sir | Wm & Mary Coll: 20th Octr 1817 |
your letter of the 21st August would have been answered sooner but for my absence from this place. The unhealthiness of Wmsburg during the summer is so great that I leave it as soon as the College closes & do not return until about this time. In consequence of this I fear my reply will be too tardy for you to be here by the opening of the College as that event will take pla[ce] on Monday next. Should you however get here in the course of a week or two you will experience no material inconvenience from the delay.
Students above 15 are admitted into our Freshman-class as a matter of course but the more knowledge they possess the greater their proficiency. For our higher classes few or none are qualified.
There is no Profr of Languages attached to the College but there will be I understand a teacher of Latin in the Town.
The necessary expenses of a Student at this College are about $250 for the Course books included, an hundred Dollars in addition for incidental expenditures I consider as a liberal allowance & therefore ought not to be exceeded.
Should you think proper to come I would advise you to use every practicable expedition