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reasonable.  He cannot consent to be fettered in his work by rule and regulation.  If he should form a class in Exegesis would not submit to have it taken out of his hands by having Dr Boynton or Nichols or Bascom appointed to a Professorship over him.  He must be allowed to manage the school as he wishes having, of course, a reasonable regard to the wishes of the Trustees;  but he must be left free in his work as Dr. Taylor of Auburn is in his, or he will not undertake it at all.  He believes he ought to seek for advancement with the growth of the institution and be allowed to choose his department, which would probably be that of Biblical Literature, and not be left to a perpetual drudgery in the Preparatory Dept. though, of course, for years this will be when the most important work must be done.  Nor will he teach more than five hours per day, or be responsible for the instruction of an evening class.  His work last summer wore upon him so that he would have broken down had it continued a year.  He will not promise to renew it if he returns.  Neither will he return if by so doing he shuts himself out from the ministry, for there is a great field in and around Washington for preaching.  Mission Churches ought to be formed among the colored people where the preaching will be of a higher order than that they have been accustomed to hear.  If he returns to W. wishes to enter this field and have the aid of those connected with the University in doing so.  So attraction is the work for him that he prefers a negro church to almost any church North.  But this is a different thing from coming to W. simply as a school teacher.

He would expect the customary vacations in the school year.  He would not undertake to teach through another summer as he did last, and he would want assistants furnished from time to time as the growth of the school might demand.  The present school room is not properly ventilated.  He should expect it remedied.

As to salary, Gen. Howard offered him $1200 & quarters.  Nichols suggested $1600.  The A.M.A. paid him $150. per month and gave as quarters a house for his wife's services, which made the salary equal to $2500.00 a year.  He would be willing to return for this amount;  preferring that the money be paid him and to be allowed to lookout for himself.

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Does not believe the salary asked is too large.  No larger than would furnish a respectable living.  Mentions professors who receive $2500. a year and who this year received $500 additional, yet their work is not so hard as his would be.  If he has to work simply for food and clothing he would prefer doing it in a regular parish.  If he comes to Washington will expect to save a little money - considers it a duty he owes himself and family - and he would be likely to give better satisfaction on a liberal than on a narrow insufficient salary, though if he does return he intends to give satisfaction at any rate, if hard work will do it.  He supposes the Trustees will hardly give a [[underlined]] unanimous [[/underlined]] invitation to return on these conditions, but he is not willing to return unless they are substantially carried out.  If General Howard can secure him in these terms without a direct vote of the Trustees he would not care, though regulation action on their part would be preferable.  Even then he could not undertake the work unless his wife should give her free consent, for she is anxious for him to remain in the ministry, and does not like to live in Washington, and it may be she will object to his accepting the position.  However if an invitation is given him to return he will consider it faithfully and prayerfully.

This letter is free and may be used as desired.

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Williams requirements not unreasonable.  Glad to have his letter but we now have another party in view & will probably not [[?and/send]] pursue the [[?negro]] [[?teachers/trustees]] further with W.