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                                                                                                           Isaac
                                                                                               Engineering, Teaching, Barkers of Exeter,
                                                                                               Settlement of property at home
                                                                                   Bowd. Coll. July 8th, 1847

Dear Brother.

              Your letter of the sixth inst was by me duly received this morning. As I happen just now to feel like it, I will endeavor to reply to it.
    Engineering, " Plan may be a good one", damn with faint praise etc. rather cool at any rate

A College course may not be the best and most economical training for any occupation; it is certainly not the most economical one; but still is a good one for any business whatever, except that of a day laborer, is perhaps of no use for that, except as far as one's own happiness is concerned that is if one never wishes to rise from it; and may render one lazy, which is its usual effect.

 Your idea of the duties of an Engineer, are perhaps a little erroneous, as far as overseeing Paddies etc, etc is concerned. All that sort of thing is the business of the Contractors, of those who build the road, and not of the Engineers. Engineers find out, decide and direct, where, how, the road shall be built, and see that the Contractors so built it, or cause their Paddies to.

I.S.M. ought to be able to do something else equally as good quicker and easier." Do for pity's sake tell me what that "something else" is -- any thing -- anywhere -- any how -- and I stand ready to "pitch into it." immediately, and just as if I meaned something too.