Scope and Contents

Went to see Horatio Huighes to see if he would insure the 430 bbls of lard Matthew is shipping to him [HH]; talked about Rutson and Fontaine; Mr. Hughes showed him a letter from Walker and a copy of Lord Lyon's letter to Fontaine and Fontaine's reply; Fontaine's letter was very respectful, and he adopted an air of injured innocence that they found amusing; thinks Rutson and Fontaine were foolish to declione an offer of freedom and remaining on parole in New York or Boston until the end of the war; now they will have to depend on [Secretary of State] Seward's favor; Horatio says that William can't stay with him while his sister  is staying there; William will have to pay for lodgings somewhere else; Laura's neice, Mrs. Foster, just had a baby boy; he walked with her when she went to visit her, thinking it would be on the way to the office but it was actually in the wrong direction; saw many old sights on his way to the office; took a walk on Sunday morning to see more old familiar places; was reminded of old friends by the places he visited; Uncle Rutson's house is now a "Model Lodging House"; picked up oranges, milk punch, some Scotch scones, and some orange marmalade while he was on his travels; Mr. Clunas plans to leave tomorrow [for New York]; was awakened this morning by someone shouting that the house was on fire; quickly got up and checked to see which house was on fire; it turned out to be the house next door; joined Taylor and Kate in passing buckets of water over to the other house and taking back the empty buckets; the fire was in the kitchen and put out quickly; Mr. and Mrs. Edw[ar]d A. Cox of Cardiff have been to visit; encloses Mr. Cox's card [not present] in case Matthew can help him find business in New York; after mailing a letter for Mary Bold, bought some food in case Mr. and Mrs. Cox were hungry  after having an  early dinner; will not tell her any more about the fire since Mary has already written to her about it; is sending her 3 copies of the London Times and an article about Dr. Howson [not present]; (26 February) Mr. Wood heard from Mr. Thomas Dixon that Mr. [Secretary of State Seard had ordered Mr. Low to be relased; Mr. Low is to remain in Baltimore on parole and report daily to General Dix; Mr. Dixon expects Mr. Green to be released soon; thinks that their nephews will rethink the terms they have been offered and accept them; Mr. Cropper's wife wrote a letter to Lady Trevilyan on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Davis; Lady Trevilyn's daughter wrote back to say her father had seen Mr. Davis the day before the Davises left London; her parents enjoyed meeting the Davises and were sorry they had not done so sooner; thinks that more peopple in Liverpool now think that the South will be obliged to return to the Union. 1 pp. ALS