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I have just been thinking of the natural or probable influence of the business of Engineering upon the character & disposition. Would it be similar to that of ?lace? holding? Every one around is obliged to do exactly as the Engineer says. Every thing & every body is at his direction. Here for instance is a contractor who has perhaps hundreds of men at work for him as near slave as they can be, they no more so than he is to the Engineer, and not half so careful or fearful of displeasing him. Here for instance am I, poor as Job's cat often one of the shabbiest looking fellows you see in the street. To be sure (unclear) exactly to my superiors, but hundreds of men perfectly subservient for me. Rich old contractors, full of money & horses, perfect Nabobs among gentlemen, bound to the very intimation of a will, ready perhaps to go further out of their way to please me than they would to save some of their men's lives. What is the moral effect of this? To make a man imperious, arbitrary, despotic. But there is another view of this case. An engineer has authority in order that he may also have responsibility: and that is to most minds an unpleasant thing. And I am inclined to think that a most usual effect is a sort of dread of exercising authority, knowing how closely it is connected with responsibility. If this letter should ever reach you, I hope you will not delay answering it longer than till the next day, it is the best way to repay my long delay. By the way I want you immediately to write me what you can about the "Sons of Temperance." They are supposed to be very much needed in this place. I, coming from where the order exists, & having been known to speak highly of it, am of considerable consequence just now in Temperance Community; may be drawn into it in spite of myself. Write. Please put my brothers and sisters in mind of me, Aff I.S.