CORRESPONDENCE. 323 



This proved, in truth, the " last communication " 

 of its gifted author to his New Haven friends. 



PROM MRS. L. H. SIGOURNEY. 



HARTFORD, November 26, 1822. 



MY principal object in writing at the present 



time is to request your acceptance of the volume that ac- 

 companies this letter. You may possibly recollect that it 

 was on the eve of publication just before my marriage, 

 and was delayed in conformity to the wishes of my hus- 

 band. Since that period, he has been anxious that I should 

 devote my intervals of leisure to its improvement, and 

 after it had received considerable additions, became desir- 

 ous that it should appear. I am conscious that it retains 

 many defects, and think it will not prove a popular work, 

 since the modern taste seems drawn more powerfully to 

 productions where the entertainments of fiction predomi- 

 nate. My principal anxiety respecting it, is to remain con- 

 cealed, and to gain something from its sale for the religious 

 charities to which it is devoted. The secret of its publi- 

 cation and authorship are only known in this place to my 

 dear Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth, beyond whom I hope it will 

 not go. I am happy to be permitted to give you and Mrs. 

 Silliman and your mother this mark of my confidence ; 

 and with sincere wishes that the Almighty will send the 

 richest of His blessings upon your heads, both in this life 

 and the next, remain, 



Yours, with 



Esteem and affection, 



L. H. SIGOURNEY. 



A frequent correspondent of Mr. Silliman, was his 

 brother-in-law, Mr. Wadsworth, who expressed him- 

 self with force and decision on whatever subject he 

 wrote. The letter below discovers a strong impres- 



