Transcription: Abingdon Va: May 14 1860 Dr. L[evin] S[mith] Joynes, Dean of the Virginia Med[ical] College, Sir, I took the liberty of apply ing to you through Mr John Purcell of Richmond for a certificate of my matriculation at the Med[ical] Dep[artment] H[ampden] S[ydney Colege in [18]41 & 2 & 2 & 3, which was received on yesterday morning, I attended [crossout] all [crossout] anatomical [crossout] commenced my medical studies in the City of Richmond under the private instruction of the late Dr [underscore] Th[omas] [underscore] Johnson [underscore] then in the prime of his strength, moral & intellectual, attended the lectures on Anatomy [underscore] Materia [underscore] Medica [underscore] & Practice [underscore] of [underscore] Medicine [underscore] the sessions 1841 & 2, attended a summer course of lectures [18]42 & 43, attended a full course of lectures in [18]42 & 43 & another summer Course [18]43 & I was a constant attendant upon the wards of the infirmary while a Med[ical] student, I laid some claim to proficiency in my studies, as a student and fully calculated upon coming forward the ensuing spring after having attended my 3rd course of winter lectures the sess[ion] [18]43 & 4 {for honorable graduation} when the unfortunate difficulty sprang up in the Faculty which terminated in the forced resignation of Th[omas] Johnson. I being a youth at the time war induced by Dr. J[ohnson] at the time [crossout] not to attend Lectures longer in Richmond, as my having been connected with him at that period, as a private pupil, would operate very seriously against me in the "green room." especially on the part of Prof[essor]s Cullen & Warner, I was prevailed upon to leave college at the time, I still pursued my studies assiduously for months subsequently, when I came [crossout] {removed to the} upper country of Va and commenced the Practice of Medi[cine]: It is but justice to the memories of Prof[essor]s Warner & Cullen to say, that, as I aft erwards learned through a friend, the impressions made upon my mind as regards those gentlemen, were entirely erroneous, naturally feeling a desire to receive the highest honors of my Alma [underscore] Mater [underscore], as I may almost claim the Va [underscore] Med[ical] [underscore] College [underscore] to be. I had a correspondence with the late Prof[essor] [underscore] C[arter] P[age] [underscore] Johnson [underscore] on the subject. He knew me intimately. He knew all the circumstances of the case. He laid my case before your Faculty and they assented to my coming forward for examination without the loss of time consequent upon my attendance upon a 3rd Course of Lectures by the payment of the 3 tickets, which I did not take during Sessions [18]41 & 42. Before I made my arrangements to do so, my business became so urgent that I couldn't spare the time to visit the City. [crossout illegible] I have always been engaged in good practice, my character is known to the Profession in Albemarle County to a man, where I practiced medicine for 12 years. (I removed here 2 1/2 years since). I have always occupied positions in my Profession whereever I have lived, am now in the prime strength of my powers, and naturally solicitious to undergo an examination before your [underscore] Faculty [underscore] the only impediment in my way is the time to be [illegible] in attendance upon a course of Lectures, that obstacle was removed by the resolution of the Faculty on account, as before stated, of the peculiar circumst ances in my case, his letter is now in my profession and will be forwarded to you if desired. If an examination can be accorded me by 1 or 15th July it would prove a very great favor to me, and if each examination should prove.