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Windsor House, St Paul, Minnesota Territory Sabbath P.M. July 8, 1855

Dear Sister Anne They call this the North Western Metropolis, and I believe it is quite worth visiting. I have as yet seen nothing of the surrounding country, but have spent one day here: arrived here yesterday morning, and employed the day in looking about the town. It does seem something like a Mushroom, or an exhalation that has sprung up over these bluffs in a night, and one almost feels almost anxious for the effects of a mornings sun upon it. Less than seven years ago this was all an untrodden Wilderness; Now a city of six or seven thousand inhabitants, and 15000 emigrants have arrived here already this spring. It is not altogether such an unsubstantial affair either. The really 'First Class Hotel where I am stopping cost $40.000.00 or $50.000.00. And there is another building this season to cost $100.000.00. There are two or three, perhaps more ten & twelve thousand dollar churches. I was a little surprised or amused at the sermon I heard this forenoon from Rev. E.D. Neil of the First Presbyterian Church. It was simply a Fourth of July Oration - a pretty good one for a Military celebration I should think. To be sure he took a text, but it was only to introduce his subject, and exactly that 'Righteousness Exalteth a Nation', but rather the glory of this nation in its rulers & founders especially Washington. Most of it in fact was simply a Eulogy of the Character of Washington Very well in its way, but did not seem to me very much a sermon