Young, John C. Letter to David G. Cowan (April 13, 1832)

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N. Y. New York April 13th [1832]

Dear Friend

I wrote you a very gloomy letter sometime since. Prospects brightened a little soon after. I hope yet to accomplish something. The support if 2 additional Professors for the coming 5 years would be a great lift for us. It would give character at once to the Institution as a place of large advantages, superior to any other in the West, and give us a few years to operate in collecting our debts & raising such additional funds as would make this enlarged Establishment permanent. The increase of students might be a resource for raising our salaries. I have donations enough to pay my expenses & an annual subscription sufficient for the support of one Professor. I can raise something more - but how much I cannot tell. I believe now that if I could stay 6 months I could procure $2,000 - for I find that I have raised larger sums from the fine men to whom I have obtained access than any other agent ex-

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cept Dr. Rice. But the great difficulty is want of time to gain the confidence of the [illegible word] & the improbability of [unclear: Tappen's?] giving character to the enterprise by one of his large subscriptions. He has lost severely by bad debts, & has lost at least $45,000 by the depreciation of his stock on hand. This [unclear: cripples?] him. And the [unclear: richest?] men are in much the same condition. It is the hardest work I ever undertook - but 2 months bring a man over the difficulties & make it easy. Unfortunately I have only time to enjoy its full bitterness.

Louis Ayers will come in the fall. But we must also have a chemist. How would Dr. Munsell do? I think he is the best that occurs to me, & seems well suited for the station.

If Nichols resigns, I suspect Hinckly would be the best successor - he would require a high salary - say 5 or 6 hundred. We ought to have a man of character, & a permanent & good man there. Write me to Philadelphia if I am needed at home strongly before the 20th of May. I should like to make up the 2 professorships before I return.

Remember me to all friends. Your friend J. C. [John C.] Young