Box 1

Scope and Contents: Bruyn is referred to as Alliger's great and kind friend at Kingston. Alliger explains why he is at Rutgers College, not New Haven as was expected when he left Kingston. Much praise for Rutgers College follows, an excellent institution that has not received sufficient credit because it is a Dutch institution. Alliger belongs to the Peithessophian Society, which is far superior to the Philoclean. Encourages Bruyn to come here next fall. His Sophomore class contains thirteen students; the...

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Another friend from Kingston Academy who was bound for Yale but is now "as comfortably lodged at Old Rutgers as a plum in a pudding." Discussion of current state of national politics; writer supports "Old Hickory."

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"We have fine times here. We have all we can desire. Enough to eat & drink & enough to study, and what else can we desire?" Urges "Gus" to come to Rutgers next fall.

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Celebrates the victory of Jackson and Van Buren. Christmas vacation begins on December 21; "if the river is not frozen I shall be there before Christmas to see some of those dear angels."

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"The college in my opinion is one of the finest institutions in 'our country'." Praises professors and students, Peithessophian Society, library. Asks for a copy of the New York Standard which contained a speech concerning the erection of a monument to the memory of Lady Washington. He plans to borrow from it for a competition with the Philocleans.

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"The fellows" look forward to Augustus joining them at Rutgers. Many want to attend the commencement at Princeton tomorrow, but the faculty has vetoed attendance except by those who have friends there. "We have had pretty rough times in Brunswick last week." Describes what happened when the races and the circus were in town at the same time, referring to "darkies" and "sons of Erin."

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F. Johnson of Philadelphia is now instructing a band here. He played his bugle outside the windows of Elmendorf and J[onathan] H. Hasbrouck [1837] a little before midnight. The music was so beautiful that Elmendorf expects never to forget it. Still hoping to receive the New York Standard issue which contained "some of the best speeches I know.." Includes a list of his courses by day of the week.

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Attending 17 lectures a week, "enough to make the sweat run down.."

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Recounts studies, including Greek, Latin, mathematics. "The Jackson or rather, Van Buren ticket, has succeeded by a large majority." Hopes that Bruyn is still a Jacksonian.

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All of the Kingston students are well. "I wish the Old Academy all the success in the world, and that many learned men may spring from it, who will shine as lights in world not to be sneezed at by men without noses."