Dear Madam.

I received a letter from you last evening, stating that you have from the first acquaintance with my daughter, thought her unfitted in discipline and maturity, to be a profitable member of your School; - besides being unqualified in her studies,- and you think we have been deceived by her teachers in regard to her attainments; - and that you have now come to the conclusion to send her home.

I regret exceedingly to hear this account of her, and of the decision that you have come to, and particularly so at this late period, after commencing on her second term, - when if you recollect in the letter I wrote you in regard to her staying, I made a particular request, that if you did not retain her through the year, that you would let her come home, at the close of the first term. I should have been satisfied if that course had been pursued, and thought it perfectly right.

I do not wish her to stay in the School through the year, under present circumstances, but should be glad to have her stay until the first week in April, on account of the weather, and bad travelling etc, as she is very subject to violent attacks of inflamation in her throat, upon the slightest cold.

In regard to her abilities, and our being deceived by her teachers, I will only say in reply, that she has always attended the best of our private Schools, where the teachers have been in the habit Of sending to the parents very often, of the obedience and progress of their children;-so far from her being of a disobedient or an indolent scholar, she has always been a particular favorite with them, and this is the first time that we have ever had any complaint sent us, about her in any respect. I think Madam, that the opinion you have formed of her, cannot be from your own personal acquaintance with her, but from the representations of others, who may have some prejudice against her, and have made the case as bad as they could.

She is a girl of a gay and volatile disposition, frank and open in her manners, and if she has been guilty of any indiscretion, I am persuaded that it has proceeded from mere thoughtlessness, and not from any disrespect to her teachers; - she is young, and has never been from home before; - she is extravagantly fond of reading, so much so, that her mother has been obliged to limit her books, when at home, and the greatest thing we feared when she went from us was, that she would read so much, that she would neglect her studies, and her failures in this respect, I presume originates from this cause, and not from indolence, or any defect in her abilities or intellect.

I would now ask as a particular favor, in view of her youth and inexperience, that you will pass over her failings as charitably as possible, and whenever she leaves the Seminary, that you will not expose her to the School, nor let them know the cause; - if you will Dear Madam comply with this request, you will confer a lasting favor upon her parents, and receive the heartfelt thanks of,

Your obedient servant, 
Henry Francis. 

Miss Mary Lyon

Ps. I shall be much obliged to you, if you will not charge extra, for the time my daughter has been with you, as I do not feel able, nor willing to pay more than the regular tuition price. H. F.