so long at his house (which you must know is a charming place, a nice, plain old Quaker home, with some modern fixings in it since they ceased to be Quakers) I stayed there so long that I thought best to postpone my letter till now.

"Here I am still in Mr. Evarts's office, and in a state of pretty considerable doubt what to do next. I think that perhaps it isn't practicable for me to open an office by myself before next fall, and then on the other hand, there are many reasons in favor of starting out at once. In going into another man's office in whatever capacity, the great thing or at least the first requisite, is to find a thoroughly respectable man, for there are so many bad characters in the profession here that a young man is in danger, if he proceeds rashly, of forming connections which will give him at the outset a bad odour among the better class of men of which it will be hard to rid himself. So I shall try to look before I leap.

"The novelty of my boarding-house is wearing off, and I am getting tired of it. In the spring I rather think I shall find a place somewhat further uptown where I shall be nearer my friends.

"To-day and to-morrow of course are exciting times in Salem. I should like to be there to vote against knownothings and free-soilers,* to whom I haven't become

*In 1848 both Democrats and Whigs dodged the question of slavery in the territories, and a convention at Buffalo, composed of those opposed to the extension of slavery, declared it to be the duty of the federal government to abolish slavery wherever it had the constitutional power, and that the true and only sane means to keep slavery out of the territories was by conventional action. So began the Free-Soilers, and nominated Martin Van Buren for President and divided the Democratic vote in New York State, so that Cass, the Democratic candidate, lost the State, and Taylor (Whig) won it and the election. The Know-Nothing party began in 1854, growing out of alarm at activities of the Roman Catholic clergy and at the influence of the ignorant foreign vote" in elections. Its slogan was "Americans Should Rule America," and an order attributed to Washington, "Put none but Americans on guard to-night," served as its key-note.

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any more attached since I came to New York. But I would rather be a voter in Salem than here, for nobody can form an idea, I'm afraid, of the extent to which corruption and cheating are carried on at elections here. Something will have to be done by and by to the City Government of New York. What do you think of a tax of six millions and a half of dollars for its current expenses the coming year—which is an increase of three millions since 1850! It is truly horrible and seems altogether incredible.

"Everybody in New York that knows anything is looking for a rich feast tonight in Mr. Everett's oration on the character of Washington. I am going to hear it and expect it to be the last triumph of eloquence. There are some horrible croakers here as in Massachusetts, who lose sight of all Mr. Everett's greatness and excellence, and deny it altogether, because, they say, he is a Doughface for which I like him all the better. He is to speak in the Academy of Music, and I shouldn't wonder if this should be one of the few occasions on which that large building will be more than filled. ***

"Isn't it splendid for William to be charming everybody so at the outset? Of course 'his argument was one of the best that had been heard in the court house for many a day.' But you and I have reason to know very well it will always be so. J. H. C."

"DEAR MOTHER,

"New York, March 10, 1856.

"Yesterday I went to church by going to Mrs. Gibbons's and reading Dr. Walker's sermon on the death of her son which is certainly a very beautiful tribute to his memory. I want you to know Mrs. G., mother,

somehow or other. I believe she is the greatest and best woman in New York today. To be sure the whole charm of her life is gone, with her son who was the family's idol, and to whom she devoted herself with her whole might in a way which nobody can understand and appreciate so well as you. I know that you would love each other very much. Her friendship is very unpretending but very true, and I think there is nothing in her power that she wouldn't do for a friend. If anything should happen to me, for instance, alone as I am here, you may be sure she would take me in charge and stand by me through everything, and come as near as any woman could to making your place good. Her home is the only place I have yet seen in all New York that is perfectly free from everything worldly & selfish and the false life which is generally led here. She manifests an interest in you all, and we mustn't let slip the first opportunity for you to know her.

"Last Wednesday I attended a party with the Carliles at the house of their friends the De Forests in 30th Street, who seemed to be very pleasant and sensible people, who warned their guests to come early and especially to go away early, and sure enough we came home at eleven o'clock. It was a family party, and the family is one great nest of lawyers, in all stages & ranks in the profession, from the fledgling that hasn't yet had his first case to Daniel Lord, who has grown old in the service, and has stood always in the front rank, and sometimes at the head of the Bar. Mr. De Forest is in the South American business in the same line with Mr. Carlile, and they seemed to be excellent friends of his, and treated me very kindly.

"Father's kind letter I received on Thursday and only