Sylvester in Virginia (Q1089328)

The author describes the situation arising when the British mathematician J. J. Sylvester arrived at the University of Virginia to teach mathematics. The elite of the students seemed to have been much pleased by the new professor of mathematics. But two local protestant journals had protested the appointment of the Jew Sylvester. Meanwhile some of the students of Virginia University went against him and dishonoured him very much. Due to bitter experience in U.S.A. he left the place and returned home. The author describes some correspondences between Sylvester and the authority of the Virginia University which are to be considered as a valuable document in the history of mathematics.