[Poem by Richard Henry Dana Sr. ]

[Poem, 2 verses, by Richard Henry Dana Sr. ]

[Poem, 1 verse, by Richard Henry Dana Sr. ; in ALS 1854 Jun 27 Richard Henry Dana Sr. to A.D.W. French. ]

[Sending copy of Richard Henry Dana Jr. 's sea journal [Two Years Before the Mast] ; discusses public interest; mentions visit from a sailor who had sailed with Dana Jr. and who reported sailors' interest in the book.]

[Responds to the Arnolds' invitation to stay with them in New Bedford when he lectures; mentions attending a John Braham concert; refers to a note from a Mr. Morison.]

[Re prospective lecturing in New York , Brooklyn and Baltimore for correspondent and/or Edward Terry or [Edward L.] Keyes ; says he has "none but his old lectures"; has heard Dana Jr. in twice in court and comments he did well.]

[Re obtaining a pew seat for Deshon; says Dana Sr. had already given away family pew seats.]

[Discusses Washington Allston anecdotes; mentions his planned book on Allston; tells of the recovery of an earlier part of Allston's "great picture" (Belshazzar's Feast) which had been painted over.]

[Invites him to see "the great unfinished picture" again in Allston's Cambridgeport house.]

[Arrangements for a walking trip together in Manchester, Mass. ]

[Asks about Cincinnati reputation of Dr. Morton whose Cincinnati debts had been settled by Burbank; some of Morton's opponents had spread rumors in Boston he says are untrue.]

[Declines invitation to meeting since he disagrees with some of those arranging it who are "in favor of dissolution of the Union"; mentions his dissatisfaction with "Mr. Webster's course" (referring to Daniel Webster 's 7th of March speech advocating the Compromise of 1850).]

[Requests copy of ( Massachusetts state Senator) Beach's report and bill; biographical note on Dana on bottom of letter in different handwriting.]

[Mentions daughter's poor health, his own aging, his Poems and Prose Writings and lack of financial reward from writing, and Jones' publications; questions point of preparing lectures for publication; discusses his seashore home and dissatisfaction with Hammatt Billings ' sketch of it in Homes of American Authors . Signature cut off and on of Dana Jr. glued on.]

[Identifies writer of letter sent him by correspondent as William Stedman , who married his mother's sister; both were daughters of William Ellery whom Dana Sr. saw often "at my father's."]

[Refuses invitation to lecture.]

[Brief cover note with a one verse quotation from "The Buccaneer."]

[Agrees to advise correspondent and sets appointment for him.]

[Enthusiastic endorsement of Charles Francis Adams for Congress.]

[Asks him to send copy to Father Hicks, editor of The Catholic World . Pencilled note from Osgood on letter top signed "J.R.O." asks someone to be sure this has been done.]

[Tells of Mrs. Washington Allston 's death.]

[Expresses sympathy for Mason's son's death.]

[About location of Dana Sr.'s signature on a photograph.]

[Queries Fessenden if he had changed his opinions of the proposed Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; mentions Massachusetts voters' indifference and a strong party forming against the proposal because under it, the United States has to admit the states, the proposal retards the progress of other proposed Fourteenth Amendments, Massachusetts voting requirements could be affected, and if it were rejected a better course of action might be adopted; says he is writing to Fessenden only and will keep secret his reply or use it as Fessenden desires.]

[Unable to take part in Fields' "Dickens' Dinner" any time that week.]

[Expresses disgust about machine politics, Senate's consideration of the articles of impeachment of President Andrew Johnson , and his own failed efforts "to stem the tide" in Massachusetts ; mentions views of [Robert Cummings] Schenck . Part of this letter has been cut away, but not the signature.]

[Places order for the "President's Trial."]

[Bon voyage letter to future son-in-law recommending sightseeing in England and a tailor and clothiers.]

[His preference for the Fields, Osgood, and Co. sketch of the brig to that in Sampson, Low and Co. edition of Two Years Before the Mast ; requests minor changes and an accounting.]

[Recommends Mrs. Hooper have Walter Brackett clean Washington Allston 's picture,"Elijah Fed by Ravens"; mentions poor health. Note on letter mentions subsequent ownership of the Allston painting.]

[Responds to query about a monument for Samuel Finley Breese Morse ; says Professor Francis Dana not his brother or uncle but a remote relative and honored friend of his father and will forward compliment to Francis Dana 's widow.]

[In Portland where he is arguing a case; mention her sisters Lily Dana , Henrietta Dana , and Sally Dana who is feeling much better; left 25 pages of manuscript "on board" with Captain Burke.]

[Expresses concern for him and his family (after the Chicago Fire).]

[Sending Lyman and his brother book on fire insurance.]

[Giving permission to announce engagement to daughter Charlotte Dana . ]

[Letter accompanying Charlotte Dana 's journal from Europe . ]

[Forwarding Lyman's letter to Charlotte Dana in Stuttgart, Germany . ]

[More about Charlotte Dana 's European journal.]

[Asking about job offer received by Lyman.]

[Tells her of trust set up by Aunt Sarah's will providing dowries for Dana's daughters; settlement will be either yearly allowance or down payment for a house.]

[Re Lyman's plans in the "new" Chicago and Charlotte Dana 's financial expectations upon her marriage.]

[Re Charlotte Dana 's savings transfer to Lyman for deposit on Chicago lot.]

[Re Lyman's Englewood ( Chicago ) lot purchase; includes draft and offers some money to obviate need for mortgage.]

[Re news of Charlotte Dana 's European journal; mentions Mrs. Dana is in Baden Baden while Henrietta Dana , Charlotte Dana , and Rosamund Dana are at Cadiz . ]

[Sends money to pay off lot mortgage when it comes due.]

[Suggests he may prefer to use all the money to avoid a mortgage and may put a lot in Dana's name.]

[Responding to Lyman's request for advice about changing his profession, discusses law and business professions; suggests he examine his own "duties and purposes in life."]

[Agrees to send more money for a third lot in Englewood and the title to be in Lyman's name.]

[Cover letter for lot purchase money with torn list of college boat race times.]

[Apologizes for forgetting to endorse check; amusing critique of Harvard - Amherst boat race.]

[Congratulates him on becoming a Notary Public; discusses real estate and pleasure in reading Charlotte Dana 's last European journals.]

[Re Charlotte Dana 's Englewood real estate; transactions were to equalize Charlotte's financial situation with her sisters'.]

[Thanks him for mentioning another available lot but cannot spare the money for the investment.]

[Re Lyman's interests, current activities, family news, opinion of the new Hawaiian sovereign, and his own law practice; mentions health.]

[Discusses merits of law school vs. study with individual lawyer; hopes Lyman's parents will visit Boston ; regrets missing Mr. Jackson; expresses enjoyment at Lyman's account of the new king of Hawaii and proposal to abstract to the Advertiser , with due safeguards as to its authorship.]

[Critical discussion of Middlemarch ; mentions his admiration and describes the novel as a depressing picture reminding him of "that deary waste of afterthoughts" watching a ship's wake at night.]

[Asks him to reserve the volume of Sir W. Hamilton . ]

[Thanks for returning Charlotte Dana 's journals; asks that Lyman sell Chicago lots or not as he sees fit.]

[Further comments on law training, the excellence of Harvard Law School and his pleasure if Lyman were to be nearby, and the excellence of Charlotte Dana 's journals; asks that proceeds from sale of Dana's lots not be invested in railroad property.]

[Re deeds, property, shipping receipts for furniture but none for portrait; Lyman may attend Harvard Law School ; Lily Dana well enough to sail with Dana.]

[To sail with Lily Dana for Europe where he will learn more of Lyman's plans from Charlotte Dana ; recommends Harvard Law School as best course for Lyman.]

[ London tailor thanks him for his business; sends prices for clothing.]

[Written on House of Lords stationery while waiting in lobby; mentions Lily Dana 's poise in London with his friends Lord Frederick Cavendish and Lord Kinnaird; mentions visit to St. Paul 's with Leferve, an hour with Canon Liddon and plans for Dover via Canterbury , then Brussels , then etc.]

[Concerns clothing made for Lyman by London tailor Kino.]

[Re apartment for Charlotte, her trunks, furniture and other personal affects.]

[Relays Isabelle Dana 's invitation for her to stay in Chestnut Street since Dana Jr. and family will be away.]

[Has a heavy cold but will try to attend invitation to dinner a honoring King of Hawaiian Islands.]

[Unable to send copy of Dana's speech although complimented by request.]

[Confirms Harris' position in philosophy and history committees from list in his possession, rather than the list Mr. Cabot had used.]

[Tells of Aunt Betsey's death and asks him to relay news to the David Lyman s.]

[Account of "White Mountain Style" drive to join family for vacation in Bethlehem, N.H. and mentions plans to visit North Conway . ]

[Mentions family vacation in Manchester, Mass. and drive to the Loring Museum.]

[Mentions strong northeaster blowing at the shore and the Olmsteads.]

[Passes on housekeeping hiring details from mother; best wishes to her future husband from Dana Jr. who mentions the > Tribune 's comments on [Benjamin Franklin] Butler and "poor" letters of Pierpont to it.]

[Thanks for volume of Tennyson's "Harold."]

[Mentions family's great concern that she and her husband might have been in the train wreck near Ashtabula in route to Chicago ; sends draft and bridal money; misses her.]

[Expresses pleasure at Richard Dana 's engagement to Edith Longfellow ; attempts to cheer up Charlotte and Francis Ogden Lyman who are both sick.]

[Forwarding Mary Dana 's gift to her soon; Dana's reception for Richard Dana and Edith Longfellow ; guests included Henry Wadsworth Longfellow , Rev. Sam Longfellow , Mrs. Nathan Appleton , Mrs. Child, Mrs. Greeley Curtis ; Dana Sr. unable to come.]

[Concerns Charlotte's journals; Dana's family visits to Hyde Park ; status of his law cases; mentions Frank Dana . ]

[Recommendations to Charlotte on safety of banks; mentions Sally Dana 's birthday.]

[Disappointed she cannot come East this summer; mentions family news and health of Dana Sr. and Aunt Charlotte.]

[Distressed Charlotte and Francis Ogden Lyman lost all their money in a bank failure; asks what they need and whether she lost her money from the trust.]

[Thanks for his many kind acts and particularly for something Taylor has written in the Tribune . ]

[Advises she take books Dana Sr. wishes to give her even if she must store them.]

[Re engagements of two friends.]

[Glad she is taking the books; mentions social news.]

[Letter of introduction for Lt. Governor Archibald of Nova Scotia . ]

[Complies with her request; expresses interest in aspirations of the young; includes Dana Sr.'s autograph.]

[Asks for prompt receipt of enclosed check and earlier one; love to both daughters and pleasure that they will see Charlotte Dana Lyman soon.]

[Re family financial business.]

[Apologizes for mislaying check.]

[Regrets delay in sending some papers but just received keys to trunk they are in.]

[Accedes to complimentary request.]

[Concerns "packet delivery" and the Manchester Express Co. ]

[Brief lines with autograph and favorite sentiment.]

[Specifying "S. W. Dana" lettered on case for his wife.]

[Fragment. Autograph apparently cut from a letter; a few words of which appear on verso.]

[Receipt for travel and attendance pay due him.]

[Receipt for clothing.]