Philip St. George Cocke to John H. Cocke
| Dear father | University August Sunday 21st 1825— |
having put of writing to you until now with the expectation that you would be up here about this time to wait upon Genl Lafayette to Bremo, but having heard that he would not have time to visit you, and would be oblidged to leave here tomorrow, I concluded that if you had heard of his intentions which I thought very probable; that I should not have the pleasure of seeing you here again for some time, I therefore thought it best to write you immediately my procedure since you left here.
Genl Lafayette arrived at Monti Cello on friday last [. . .] accompanied by Mr Munro and suit and were all invited by the students to a dine dinner on saturday.
The Genl with his suit arrived here saturday at 1. Oclock and the Genl was received at the south end of the lawn, by the professors, and addressed by Ballard Preston, from there he was conducted to Mr Tucker’ house where the young men were introduced to him and where he took some refreshments and remained until dinner, when dinner1 was ready he was conducted by the professors to the Rotunda where he was again address by Mr Lee a student, thence he was conducted up into the large room of the rotunda where the dinmer dinner was prepaired prepared. After dinm dinner was over and the students had taken leave of the Genl he returned to Monti Cello. The toast, speeches, and farther particulars of the dinner you will find in the Central Gazette.
Since you left here I have exerted myself more than usual to overcome those idle propensities which I am afraid have too strong a hold upon me not to require some time and great exertions, yet, to overcome them. I found by the experience of the last week that nothing is wanting to prevent interruption by the young2 men visiting each others rooms, but that he who wishes to be uninterrupted;3 should establish the character of a student, which although it will be more difficult for me to do now than it would have been when I first came, yet I can plainly see that that [. . .] it is now practicable, and that I can convert my room from one of entertaiment to one of study. If should be mistaken in my ideas upon this subject I would not hesitate to take my boarding at some private house where I could be more retired
I took Dr Blaettermann’ ticket last week and commenced the French with him he has been kind enough to permit me to attend him privately as well as at his public lectures I shall therefore have a very good opportunity of learning the several languages which I intend to commenc with him, and shall4 indeavour to improve the opportunity as much as possible. I shall commence the Italian & Spanish [. . .] in a week or two at which time I will be pretty well5 started in the French.—
I find that I can proceed with all my studies by application with tolerable satisfaction to myself except with that of Algebra. Our lectures upon that subject are not atall adapted to beginners and more over we are hurried6 on from rule to rule without understanding what we are about. I have determind to take up some treatise upon the subject and work regularly through it from the beginning and by that means I am inhopes to derive more benefit than by depending entirely upon the lectures, and following the course of the class I shall write you again before long and tell you how I procceed with the French how many hours I can study in the day without interruption; and perhaps a division of my time if I can be able to make out a good one by that time,—My love to all the family, hoping that Aunt & uncle Faulcon now constitute a part