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                                                                                                                        Goffstown, N.H. June 24th 1849

Dear Brother Joseph

    Your letter was duly received a few days since and I embrace the earliest opportunity to reply to it.

I had written to you and Lucy together soon after the receipt of a letter from you both at Hampden, but it seems you had not received it?

 First you commence upon me on the Metaphysics , Mathematics etc. Well, you know just so far as these Metaphysics are concerned, I dont dare to argy  one thing You concede however that one may call them Material. But say you it is as practical to know the powers & properties of that material so as of any other. Granted. but as an Engineer, it is entirely different powers & properties that I have to do with. My knowledge of Men is simply of so much physical power or ability; "so large a part of a horse power", with capacity of such & such motions & to use that power in such & such directions. And moreover that the exercise of that power is commanded by Money. Than this what more have I do with Men?

Have you been reading Miller lately? Pray particularize somewhat upon the dependence of myself in particular, or Engineers in general upon any of your Metaphysics. Quaint & unique phenomena: you say. What sort of Rhetoric is that?

 I am extremely sorry of your decision not to visit me at present. I can hardly believe that travelling would not be beneficial to you. travel by easy stages. so as not to induce much fatigue. You speak of several days continuous travel where will you find such. You do not think of going to Wisconsin do you? This place you must remember is hardly 18 hours from Bangor. Moreover, if you came here I would not ask