might have some trouble. Tell one of the girls to write soon. Has
Simpson gone South? Are you going to the city to live?

Yours truly,

U.S. GRANT.

To J.R. GRANT, ESQ.,
Covington, Ky.

[Orvil is the youngest brother. The appointment referred to was one
for the position of County Engineer.

Free-Soilers: "The Whig party had ceased to exist ... ; the Know
Nothing party had taken its place but was on the wane; the Republican
party was in a chaotic state and had not yet received a name. It had
no existence in the Slave States except at points on the borders next
to Free States. In St. Louis city and county what afterwards became
the Republican party was known as the Free Soil Democracy."--_Memoirs_.

Professorship of mathematics: When Grant left the Military Academy he
had no intention of remaining in the army. He then expected to teach
mathematics, and had already applied for such a position at West
Point. At Jefferson Barracks his chief interest was the study of
higher mathematics with the view of obtaining a professorship. The
Mexican War, however, soon drew him into active military life.

The real estate venture was unsuccessful; it was a business even then
much overcrowded. Necessity, not instability, dictated the various
experiments.]

St. Louis,
Aug. 20th, 1859.

DEAR FATHER:

On last Wednesday I received your letter, and on the Monday before one
from Mr. Burk, from both of which I much regretted to learn of
Simpson's continued ill health. I at once wrote to Orvil, whose
arrival at Galena I learned from Burk's letter, to urge Simpson to
come by steamer to St. Louis and spend some time with me, and if it
should prove necessary for anyone to accompany him, I would take him
home. Cannot Jennie and Orvil's wife come this way when they start for
Galena? We would like very much to see them.

I am not over sanguine of getting the appointment mentioned in my last
letter. The Board of Commissioners, who make the appointment, are
divided,--three free soilers to two opposed,--and although friends who
are recommending me are the very first citizens of this place, and
members of all parties, I fear they will make strictly party
nominations for all the offices under their control. As to the
professorship you speak of, that was filled some time ago. And were it
not, I would stand no earthly chance. The Washington University, where
the vacancy was to be filled, is one of the best endowed institutions
in the U