Scope and Contents

Letter is incorrectly dated; the year should read "August 29, 1865". Had a pair of English shoes repaired; got his beard and hair trimmed; received a letter from Harriet; Walker's friend Mr. John T. Smith called at the office today and was saddened by the news of Walker's accident; wrote to Harriet to say the Mr. N.M. Ludlow and party had not yet arrieved; also told her that, since Walker was doing so well, he would stop sending her daily reports; thinks that Walker's leap from the pavement was like the South's leap from the Union, in that both were done with little cause; was surprised at the news, in a rebel paper, that Jeff[erson] Davis plans to call up black troops; thinks that such an action would end slavery and be very unpopular in the South; inflation is very high in the South; is thankful that Nan has so many friends to help her out; (30 Aug[us[t) Miss Lippett is not well enought to visit them; he and David Spence went to visit Mrs. King; forgot to take his ear trumpet with him; (31 August) Elizabeth wrote that Mary would not have time to visit Walker at Orange; encloses a press copy of a copy of Nan's letter [not present]; William said that Walker was doing well; James and Mary both came to town today; they both asked after Walker but said nothing about going to see him; does not understand why they could not do so, even if it would mean that they wuld ahve to change their travel plans; thinks it sets a bad example for their young people; knows that their nieces and nephews do not like their Uncle Matthew and Aunt Elizabeth very much; Dan[ie]l K. Stewart, John's brother and partner, is in New York. 6 pp. ALS