Is not sure whether their nephew William will be a good guest for Mr. and Miss Hughes; Miss Hughes is suffering from a cold; Matthew approves of William coming to Liverpool; Matthew said that he doesn't expect him [RM] to return to New York until autumn; thinks he could do more in Liverpool than selling cotton; when he read her latest letter to the ladies, he left out what William told Sarah about Rutson and her {AM] remarks about Jeff; would rather William had kept these feelings to himself, but is glad he and James sent money to Rutson's wife; Mr. Hodgson is sending a letter to Rutson and including C[ropper] H[odgson] & Co[mpany]'s account with Maury and Wilder and with himself; Rutson was glad when Mr. Wainewright was selected as receiver for Maury & Wilder affiars, but Mr. Hodgson says that Wainewright is biased in favor of the Wilders' thinks that Rutson's imprisonment will be good for him morally, but that it is not helping Fontaine; thinks that if they promised not to repeat the actions and not go to the South, that they would be released; sent Matthew an article from the Liverpool Post about the use of the compass in iron vessels; Mr. Prioleau of Charleston is in Liverpool; he was recently married and he and his wife are renting Allerton Hall; Elizabeth and Mary called on Mrs. Tom Irlam and Miss Irlam was there; Dora [Miss Irlam] doesn't want to lean on her sister-in-law too much and wants to sell fancy work; told her she would be better off knitting worsted-work; asks for the title, the publisher's name and address for a book she has about knitting; bought a corkscrew for the Miss Bolds; news of friends; Mr. Fred[eric]k Rodewald invited him  to stay at Feldheim with him if he stays over for the Exhibition; sends regards; (22 February) today is Gen[era]l Washington's birthday; thinks it would be a good occasion for the North and South to try and make peace; John Cropper had a letter from Mary Wakefield saying that she was better; sends her 3 more copies of the [London] Times. 8pp. ALS