Our Journal owing to the monied paralysis of the last six years & the failure of agents is again almost at 0 as regards support, and will soon be in serious hazard if not corrected. Perhaps we may ere long send you a letter circular on that theme which it may now be necessary to reiterate for the 3^d time in a quarter of a century. We do not feel it to be an act of humiliation but of fidelity to the interests & honor of the country.

My daughter joins me in kindest remembrance to your ladies, not forgetting our estimable friends the Fowlers, Humphreys, & especially the Gridleys & emphatically Sarah who was almost a daughter in my family.

I was delighted with your beautiful village & splendid scenery & most forcibly impressed by your gigantic tracks (pray put them under cover if you only have a boxed case over them) and by a grandeur in your geological specimens quite in keeping with the magnitude of those ancient birds. I sincerely hope that your very valuable Institution will recover from its embarrassments (temporary I trust) and with my good wishes for both worlds I remain my dear sir, very faithfully yours,

Prof Ed. Hitchcock       B Silliman

Please say to Prof Shepard’s friends that he & family will start for the South on Saturday Nov^r 4.