[Looks forward to returning home and being reunited with his daughter Catharine Sedgwickand his other children; mentions concern about the health of Aunt West who is such a good person]

[Writes from Lebanon, New Hampshire, where she has met a Mr. Brasier, a Unitarian Minister, whom she desires to introduce to Mr. Harmanus Bleeker]

[Encourages the recipient of her letter, who is apparently leaving for an unknown country, to not despair; and hopes he will be rewarded for working for such a noble cause]

[writes concerning the publication of an article by Sismondi, in Americaand in England, and her translation of the article into English which is now useless, and the whole thing profitless for her correspondent; wants him to forward the Sismondi article to William [J.] Mrimot, Beacon Street; and mentions an article by Madame de Stael in the North American Review]

[Letter regards money she expects to get for some drafts, and asks that payment be sent to her in Stockbridgeor to her brother's address in Lennox]

[On the reverse of the previous letter, August 16, 1836, he replies to her letter for his brother Bill, sending her a statement of the drafts collected and the amount of $64.24]

[Notifies Mary Russell Mitfordthat she, Kate, and others of her party would like to spend the evening with her at Readingon the way from Southamptonto Londonif possible, and calls Mary Russell Mitfordher oldest friend in England]

[inserted in Field's copy of the illustrated edition of the Bryant Festival at the Century(PS 1185.c4 1865a 590314 copy 2)]

[Social note to Mr. George Palmer Putnam, in which she hopes that both he and his wife are well]

[Mentions her travel to various friends' houses in the country, New York, and Long Island; apologizes about the long delay in answering her kind, gratifying, and interesting letter; speaks about her own strong feelings for her family and the people of New England, where seeing her writings appreciated by New Englandgives her the most satisfaction; mentions Mrs. Maria Watson's "trials"; philosophizes about God's wisdom in giving each as much as she can bear; praises the writing and philosophy of Frederika Bremerwho understands domestic life and natural character in all places, especially (her native) Swedenand New England; urges her to read Emilia Windhamby Mrs. [March ?]; and gives her emotional encouragement]

[Since she has not heard from the firm's clerk about her request to send a pictorial Bible, she asks George Palmer Putnamto send the Bibleas well as several other books to Lennox; sends greetings of the season and inquires after his family]

[Translates a line by Goethefor him (counseling a young student): "Reason and good sense are expressed with little art. When you are seriously intent on saying something it is necessary to limit for words!"]

[Thanks her for invitation which she would gratefully accept even if Mrs. Coolidge's brother were not present.]

[Will comply with Mrs. Farrar's request for autographs to be sold at a fair; not only will she send her own but will include "treasures" from her papers in Lennox-other people's valuable autographs; and hopes that the dry, cold air will relieve Mrs. F. from the miseries of asthma.]

[Expresses admiration for James Parton's writings and his genius, especially fascinated by the central figures of his biographies Butler and Burr; calls the book on Burr the most exciting one she ever read; credits her special interest in Burr to personal acquaintance since her father had met him and Burr's sister, Mrs. Reeve, was a schoolmate and later an intimate friend of her mother; apologizes for possible blunders in her letter due to being an invalid, her eyesight reduced and her memory not too keen; talks about Burr's looks and his intellect, yet, in her opinion, with no conscience, no moral principle; speaks at length about the Life of Andrew Jacksonand the Federal Party; wonders if James Partonhas heard of her and mentions her nephew Theodore Sedgwickwho would have written "The History of the Federal Party" had he not died young]

[Pleased to have got such a quick reply from him, she compliments him again on his writing; mentions the complaints of her cousin regarding the reading matter sent to the wounded soldiers, such as Harvey's Meditations, and "similar rubbish of philanthrop's libraries," not suitable reading among the bombs and suggests that his own books would be far better reading material, especially if he had unbound printed sheets, which could be stitched together in numbers to make them lighter and thus easier to carry and to handle; knows the difficulty in handling regular books ... from her own invalid's point of view; believes it would not be necessary for him to donate the books, there being enough philanthropists willing to buy them for that purpose; presently reading The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklinand is most impressed by it; tempted herself to do biography, she has come away from his books convinced that she did not have the gift; speaks about a sermon she has heard at her church in Stockbridge, parts of which impressed her; relates an anecdote of her brother Charles Sedgwickregarding his religious affiliation; mentions Stephen Girard; apologizes for writing at much length (against her doctor's orders), and for taking so much of his time]

[Asks that the little volume accompanying the letter to be given to Miss Fairlie's "faultless niece" and refers to the time spent talking with Mrs. Mary Fairlie Cooper's brilliant sister]

[Expresses regrets for not being able to accept an invitation for the following evening because friends of hers are coming to town.]

[Informs Mr. Fletcher Harperthat she plans to publish Clarenceand Redwoodwith Putnamsince they are not included in her contract with his publishing house; complains that according to friends of hers, copies of her books cannot be found in Boston, Hartford, and Philadelphiaat times, although she knows that he has the books on hand; and asks him to check with agents]

[Informs her that she will be at home this morning, happy to see her any time after 11 o'clock]