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124 the most important military offices. But it belongs essentially to the spirit of our people, with whom natural geniuses without education are ever preferred to those persons who do things because they have learned how. A series of timely disasters will teach us a valuable lesson.

Your grandfather, as I learn, slowly fails, destined, as I suppose, ere long to leave behind him the memory of a life by its simple benevolence and worth more adorned than that of many who make noise in the world. As to the poems you spoke of to Belinda, I informed you, in a letter that missed you, that I was going to Europe last Spring (the war detained me), and I wished you to have copies of whatever the next book might contain; and I intended to provide funds for their publication in case I returned not, and to request you to superintend the doing of it. But, as I am as yet here, it becomes for the present less necessary. I told you also of my meeting Mr. Bryant, and said I would speak more of it when I saw you. My regards to your wife.

Your friend,

N.B. The creepers at Stow veil the piazza more and more, and I now feed with my hands the birds that build nests among the leaves. Dr. has in magazine at his own charges several ounces of Dupont's Best, for defence of Nahant, and was elected Captain of the " Invincibles" of that place, but declined. He grows fat and hearty.