[Discusses The New Priest in Conception Bay , about which Rev. Ward has written in The Christian Examiner ; says his brother, James Russell Lowell , did not help in the making of the character "Bangs," that he had no help from anyone, except for some deletions in the second edition which Caleb Sprague Henry suggested; says that, although in poetry, he cannot make "fun," as his brother can, he needs no help with prose; disclaims familiarity with writings to which others have likened The New Priest ; mentions the unsympathetic, slighting way of Charles Eliot Norton and Robert Lowell 's brother, James, both with the North American Review ; expresses the hope of a visit to Duanesburg by Ward; discusses several characters in The New Priest ; mentions Mr. Tucker, George Herbert , John Keble . ]

[Answers a letter from Ward concerning a visit to Duanesburg ; expresses a hope that the delay in his answer will not keep Ward and the Rev. Tucker from visiting him; says that, since he is crippled from an injury, he will not be able to meet them in Albany & Susquehanna Railroad ; says he is also writing to Ward's address in Ansonia, Connecticut ; speaks of an upcoming trip on a steam frigate; sends compliments to Tucker and William Buell Sprague . ]

[Sends regrets, a duplicate having gone to William Buell Sprague , that he must leave on the frigate for a trip of three or four weeks; expresses hope that Ward's visit can be postponed.]

[Mentions the pleasure Ward's visit gave to the rural people near the Hudson River , and to his family; discusses enlarging the rectory; mentions Bishop Philander Chase . ]

[Comments on the doggerel in the Round Table ; asks if Ward received his hymn in the first draft; states that Thomas Hughes does the Lowell family too much honor in saying eight members died in the Civil War, three of whom ( Stephen George Perkins , Robert Gould Shaw , and one of the Russells), belong to other families; refers to an article by Thomas Hughes , "Young Heroes of the Civil War" (published as "Peace On Earth" in Macmillan Magazine , London , January 1866); article states that eight members of the Lowell family died in the Civil War.]

[Mentions unfulfilled hopes that Ward would visit; discusses work on enlarging the rectory; mentions Tucker's current employment and the Church Monthly . ]

[Expresses pleasure that Ward is moving to a parish in Marblehead, Massachusetts ; praises Newfoundlanders and other British fishermen as kindly and loving; mentions reviews of Antony Brade, A Story of a School , in The American Church Review and Scribner's Monthly , and one to be in International Review ; hopes to visit him in Marblehead . ]

[Thanks him for his critique of A Story or Two from an Old Dutch Town in The Times ; discusses the way the American-Dutch characters in the stories were made and that the Dutch like the book; acknowledges that those who didn't like Antony Brade will not forget their unkindness and hopes other higher guides of opinion will approve; mentions William Eliot Griffis and his book The Mikado's Empire , Soloman Stoddard , Whitesuntide at Pinkster Hill in Schenectady , The Christian Intelligencer , and some fictional characters.]

[Expresses satisfaction with the part Ward will have in Bishop William Stevens Perry 's The History of the American Episcopal Church, 1587-1883 ; comments that a serious medical problem has kept him from intellectual work and that he has been idle except for six months in his old rector's job in Duanesburg ; and offer from a publisher for a new book has had to wait; mentions Mary Ann Duane Lowell . ]

[Thanks him for his sympathy on the death of his son; discusses his son's good character; states that Ward deserves good pay for his work and asks if it would be improper, in writing to Henry Mason Baum , to say that if he still wants his articles it may be possible to arrange matters; mentions writing to Roberts Brothers requesting that Ward be sent some books.]

[States that he has not heard from Roberts Brothers and fears that they will not be able to buy a copy of The New Priest , that Roberts Brothers holds the plates, hoping to bring out a new edition after he has given them another novel to publish; fearing that "out of print" means "out of stock," he is sending a copy of the first edition of The New Priest and a second edition of Poems , and that Roberts Brothers can supply their later publications; discusses how he has not fulfilled others' expectation of him; mentions Levi Hedge , Frederic Henry Hedge . ]

[Discusses Ward's being cheated regarding a horse and offering to help find another (including a passage in Latin regarding his own experiences with horses); tells him to do as he likes about he paper for Critic ; discusses the style of portrait he has selected for the frontispiece, as the article will be given first place; mentions that Henry Mason Baum asked for some "points" from Edward Josiah Stearns , which Robert Lowell must now forward.]

[Thanking Ward for his letter of sympathy regarding his son's death; discusses the Lord's handling of the death, that overwork killed his son, and that Ward should slow down, including not writing that article on Robert Lowell , unless he's paid and it is done in lieu of other work; discusses the history of attempts to get the article, "Dr. Robert Lowell and His Writings," written; mentions a portrait; mentions Henry Mason Baum , Epephanius Wilson , Edward Josiah Stearns , Francis Alexander , Chester Harding , The American Church Review . ]

[Expresses pleasure at hearing from him, mentions his "office and success in Glasgow " and "Mess. Phillips & Sampson's day"; includes a detailed autobiography and a list of his writing; mentions Washington Allston , Joseph Green Cogswell , George Bancroft , Levi Hedge , Frederic Henry Hedge , Wendell Phillips , Alonzo Potter , Alexander Viets Griswold , James Duane , the Rev. P. M., Benjamin Franklin Butler , Atlantic Monthly , Atlantic Tales . ]

[Discusses his lack of respect for "newspaper theology" and keeping up with the recent religious controversy; mentions several articles attributed to Ward; states that he was opposed to the choice of Phillips Brooks for bishop; mentions his recovery from his fourth attack of winter cholera.]