Typed copy of a portion of an autograph letter : Norwood, to W.H. Harrison, 1862 Sept. 20.

Thanking Mr. Harrison for the picture of his "return to pleasing scenery," and especially for his account of the vicarage. There is much "talk of the decline of the Church of England in the regard to respect of the People. I believe on the contrary that it never stood higher in the esteem of the People. I am a thorough believer in the stability and everlasting endurance of the Church of England..." A vicarage such as the one Mr. Harrison describes is "one of its elements of strength" and most delightful features. "In many a remote corner of our land is to be found a highly educated gentleman with Heart & Head equally good devoting the powers of his mind to the instruction of gentle & simple [people] and displaying the qualities of his Heart in gaining the affections of the rudest congregations, pointing the way to Heaven, aiding them in their wordly pursuits by improving their daily conduct... [etc.] I honour the Established Church & have no fear of either Carlyle or the seven Essayists doing it much Harm..." Has he seen Ruskin's article in Fraser's? [Munera Pulveris, Ch. I] He was "not troubled with the M.S. because Froude the Historian who is I suppose Head Editor or half Editor of Fraser kept it quiet & to themselves..." There are blunders which would have been corrected had Mr. Harrison seen the M.S. "I took no interest in it not liking my son to soften his brain over political economy--Carlyle says this month's Fraser article is the greatest thing my son has yet done--it is to me as incomprehensible as Mr. Browning's admired Poems very Utopian & not the least amusing." He has asked Smith, Elder to send Mr. Harrison the September Christian Observer, "containing one of the kindest critiques on my son's works I have ever met with..." It also alludes to his "influence... on the advance of Architecture... whilst Builders & Architects never name him as having anything to do with their doings." As Mr. Harrison says, "America... has punished herself--With all their tremendous Boasting & all their Washington wisdom they have in 50 years made for themselves worse than no character at all. They would have been a greater people at this day had they never thrown off their allegiance but been as Australia or Canada are, branches of the British Empire." His son is living in what was once the "Empress of Russia's cottage on the Saleve six miles from Geneva at £8 a month nice garden & superb Views." In a nearby house he has "Room... for his huge stones and huge books..." He "writes in greater contentment than for a longtime past."