
          Washington DC
 Patent Office
 April 11/61 [1861]


 My Dear Dr


 Your letter was duly received by
 me some days since & contained $3.00 inclosed [enclosed]
 I had paid $2.85 for copying 
 the patent and the discount of the note leaves
 me your [debtor?] in five cents which I hereby
 acknowledge. I delayed answering till I
 had opportunity to write you a long note.


 I have received plenty of notices from
 outside that I will soon be at large, but
 not having been notified from the proper
 quarter I do not place much belief in it &
 I rather think the office is inclined to retain
 me, unless outside pressure is very great and
 indeed for my own part I have no immediate 
 desire to be shoved out when the country presents
 such a gloomy aspect. Our city here is under
 military law. On crossing over the Potomac
 this morning, on my way to the office, I found
 a mounted guard watching the bridge lest
 the south would send in troops. It is really

        