Scope and Contents

It is difficult not knowing how America will respond to England's demands for reparations in the Trent Affair; there are many editorials in the London TImes about it; the Society of Friends [Quakers] wtote to Lord Palmerton and urged peace and arbitration; the Times urges England to recognize the C[onfederate] S[tates of] A[merica]' Tom Bold expects there to be war if the captices are not released; so does everyone else; hopes Parliament feels otherwise; Tom does not think New York would be attacked in the event of a war, but he [RM] thinks attacking cities like Boston and New York would be part of the plan; Willie Bold is home for the holidays and he [RM] os not staying next door; had tea with Mr. and Mrs. Cropper, their daughter, Maggie, and young Mr. Weed; John Cropper is concerned about the stocks he had in American companies in the event of war; told him that he thought he would be able to collect dividends after the war was over; John Cropper said that most of the men who write editorils for the Times are a bad lot; Mrs. Tom Irlam sent him some medical instruments to help his hearing but they were no use to him; will save them for Fontaine; the Croppers told him to seit in David Hodgson's pew at church,as it has tubes connected to the pulpit for deaf people; plans to give money to Elizabeth, Mary, and Laura for letting him stay with them so long and will threaten to to find lodgings if they will not accept the money. 4pp. ALS