When the official report reached me that you had received 18. Demerit marks for the month of October,1 I was greatly mortified, but did not write to you, hoping that it had been accidental, and would not occur again. To my surprise and still greater mortification, I received to day, your conduct Report for the month of November,2 from which it appears, that instead of improving, your conduct has become worse; and that you have received 22. Demerit marks for the latter month. Your whole number of Demerits thus far, it seems is 60, and at this rate, you will reach before your first year expires, the maximum, for which it will become necessary to dismiss you. You can have no good excuse for such neglect of duty, and I now say to you plainly, that as you make your bed you must lie on it. I have taken great interest in your welfar[e]3 and will still do so if you prove yourself t[o] be worthy of it. If however you choose to disregard my wishes & admonitions, and to neglect your duty, you must rely upon yourself and not on me, in future life. Yo[u] may think me too strict, but in this you are mistaken. I know it is, in your power by ordinary attention to your duty, to erase the mortifying Reports, of your conduct whi[ch] have been made for October and November. For the future I hope to receive no more such Reports. I have great anxiety to have the result of your examination “in studies” in January. It generally happens that those w[ho] have most Demerit marks, stand the wo[rst] examination. I hope in your case, it may be otherwise. You should devote every moment of your time to your studies to the end that you may pass as reputab[le] an examination as possible. I hope f[or] the best, but a few weeks will determine what your standing in your class is. I write you thus plainly for your good [. . .] hope you may profit by it. Your future standing and reputation will depend upon your own conduct, at the Academy.

I write this letter with pain. It would give me sincere pleasure, if I could write one of a different character commending you for your good conduct. With the Reports for October and November before me, this I cannot do.

Your affectionate Uncle