.OTk0.NjQ1NTI

in brown ink at upper left: Copy letter sent Mess? Blackwood in answer to theirs Dated 3rd. Oct.

in black ink: Broad Oak Benchley 5th October 1848

Dear Sirs Among the many tributes paid to the memory of my late brother George from his numerous scientific, and lliterary friends since the melancholy intelligence of his death appeared in the newspapers, be assured, that none can afford more consolation to his family, than to find his friendship and talents worthy of so sympathising an acknowledgement as that conveyed to me in your note of 3rd. inst, and by such judges as yourselves —

The blow has been very sudden to us all, as yet we know nothing further, than we have read in the Papers; but my brother Lieut. A. Ruxton words quartered at Halifax, learning the sad intelligence from a similar source, instantly started for St. Louis in the U. States, and from him, in due course, we shall have the melancholy satisfaction of hearing all particulars of my brothers end, and the pleasure of feeling that one of his own “Kin” has shed a tear over his early transatlantic grace —

He had been ailing for some time, the effect (so supposed by himself and medical advisers) of a word fall from a mule