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I am now two letters in your debt, and was about to
write to you about a week ago, but after your mother, about that
time, wrote to George, I postponed my letter. I was truly sorry
to hear that the Doctor's boil continued to persecute him. It
is however much better that the noxious matter of the system
should pass off in that form than in a fever or a chronic disease.
I think Mary is right in trying some watering place for
the affection in her eyes. I fear that Mr. Smith will not be
able to meet with any lectures on geology. The few that are
delivered on that subject in the U. S. are comprehended in some
general course, which will have been over by the time he comes
on. He must then rely on his own reading, aided as he may be
by conferring with the Rogers's or other geologists.

As Mrs. Pollard has not yet received the parcel sent
to her by Prosser Harrison, I would be obliged to George if he
would learn from his friend to whom he confided the parcel, &
let me know immediately. I am glad to hear that he has some
prospect of employment as an engineer. Should he however be
disappointed, let him not be discouraged, for the suspension
of those works which require engineering science is but temporary.

I was glad to hear of Lucy Downing's good fortune.
I presume her rumoured liaison still continues. The scarcity
of provisions of which you speak is universal. The price of
meat of all kinds is so dear in this market, that the poorer
class is not able to buy it. Mutton 14 cents, Beef from 12 to
29 cents. I have several times been obliged to give 50 cents
a pound for butter. Should there be another short crop, the
consequences would be appalling. But the prospect of a good
crop if grain is good in almost every part of the country.

I hear that Lorenzo Lewis's widow is now in Philadelphia
but I have not seen her.

This day fortnight we set out for the Eastern Shore
& expect to continue there until the 1st of July, when we again
bend our course to the North—probably Newport, though it is
not acsolutely certain.

Tutwiler's two daughters are here attending Mrs.
Trist's school. One of them has been to see us, but I was out
& did not see her.

The Episcopal convention for the state is now in
Convention. They have been discussing the propriety of permitting
a black preacher to take a scat among them. The Bishop
was strongly in favor of it. Dr. Ducuchet as strongly opposed
to it—& J. Wilmer our former chaplain made a great speech
also in opposition. I wonder if the Bishop would be willing
to let his daughter be married to a "black Brother" however
unexceptionable in other respects. I think that a large part
of the civilized world are crazed on this subject of African
slavery.

Apropos! I was sorry to read a few days since in a

newspaper that a sister of Mrs. Beecher Stowe had had been insulted
at the University with a mock serenade, & that the same
occasion was thought a fitting one for burning her sister in
effigy. The article was headed " Virginia Chivalry". Pray
let me know the particulars. Your mother's health is still
very delicate—but I trust I trust that a visit to her native
county, & her relatives will prove beneficial to her. She
desires her love to you & all the rest of your family. I do
the same & am your ever affectionate father