Autograph letter signed : New York, to Henry Dilworth Gilpin, 1859 May 24.

Concerning his recent "Western tour" of America and the war in Europe; saying "I have returned from my second Western tour more gratified than ever with the wonders of that favored region. If the people of Europe knew what awaited them beyond the Allegheny Mountains they would come by millions (instead of thousands) to share the advantages of that land of promise. I have been quite disgusted & humbled by the news of this European War. - We seem to make little progress after all our boastings. - Here we have a Bonaparte invading Italy under the pretence of benefiting its people, just sixty years after another actor of the same name was performing a similar part on the same stage, & with like pretences! - I have a cynical friend who maintains the doctrine that we are creatures of instinct going round in a circle instead of progressive beings, & he points to such events as these to prove the truth of his theory. I shall return in about ten days by way of the St. Lawrence to England, after passing a day or two at Boston, & hope to arrive in time to help to sustain a policy of neutrality on the part of our government in this European War. I shall carry with me a lively sense of the kindness I experienced from Mrs. Gilpin & yourself, & the most pleasing recollections of the days I passed in your house."