.MTI4NA.MTAzMTk3

You speak of difficulty of keeping men "Free Soil"? even when fully convinced. You need John Pitt Hale to talk to some of them. I never heard anybody drive Politics right straight into a man's own individual conscience, and nail it down there as John P. Hale will. Seems as if a snake with an India rutter conscience could not get away from him; but it appears they will, at least politicians. Of students Mason & Nelle were both acquaintances of mine. Baker, Mrs. M. Baker, was my old chum. A noble fellow. Di you know whether Crosby Wheeler is in the seminary this year. I have seen no catalogue. By the way, now I think of it. Why did you send me a 'Report & Plan' of of Bangor & Waterville R.R. long time ago, and then send me the "Plan" again lately. Have the First-Parish any one in view for a minister? Why do you not make your mind to attend the Lyceum constantly. I believe it would be well worth your while, would it not? You would enjoy it. I should like to hear Giles on Don Quxote. Giles has great genius, but I do not like all his ideas. That remark, "not put in this world to enjoy" I do not believe. He may think his little deformed nervous self was not, though I should not allow even that. One thing can not be allowed to you on Giles either that "Cervantes stands side by side with Shakespeare" I am born an Englishman; Do not insult me in sort of way. Besides it is not correct. No one disputes Cervantes' greatness; neither does any one let the Spaniard set him with Shakespeare. While even the German put Shakespeare with Goethe, & the Italian with Dante. both bigger men than Cervantes