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Boston, March 8, 1861. Dear Frank,

Stanley tells me that you say you have received no letter from me, but have written me two or three times. I have, however, received only one letter from you, some two or three months since, and I wrote you several weeks ago a very long letter, accompanied by two long poems, thinking it a good opportunity to put into your hands from time to time copies of such poems as I prepared for the next book. I am sorry if they have miscarried, as they made tedious work.

I was at Beverly a few weeks ago, and found your grandfather better than I expected to see him, though feeble, of course. I should like to hear about your suc- cess in your new place, of which you said little in your letter. As for myself, I jog on in the old way, digging in cold weather and preparing journeys for the warm. I be- lieve I told you in my last that I met Mr. Bryant, the poet, some time ago, and will say more about it when I see you. O. W. Holmes, Jr., also, has a few times called and spoken of many matters and things, and has

written about others. Dr. comes more seldom, but

I do not think he has gone to Charleston, S.C., because, though he much approves of shelling that place, he thinks himself excused because a physician, as also because there will be a great rush of volunteers to go, nor less because he thinks Mr. Tudor will not permit it ; yet any of these reasons I take to be sufficient. As he is still employed upon his etchings, and has sent, as I learn, some of his pictures to the Exhibition at Paris, I doubt not he is bet- ter employed.

Our friend Mr. is, I hear, still in Dedham, devoted

to painting, but I fear does not receive thereby such in-

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