
          Frederick, Md. May 5th 1832


 My Dear Sir


 Your kind invitation to take a 
 trip to the Falls of St. Anthony would have been answered
 immediately had it not been for a rascally postscript
 of two lines that completely demolished all the castles
 in the air that the preceding part of the letter
 had been instrumental in building. You were right
 when you supposed I would snap at the chance for
 such an excursion and I very much regret that the
 opportunity should have been lost. I know Houghton
 whom you say goes out and without any vanity, do 
 sincerely believe that the trip would be worth much
 more to myself than it can possibly be to him.
 He is a thorough-going Rensselaer school boy, without
 the necessary discrimination to take advantage of the
 undoubted and peculiar benefits of that school, apart
 from the imperfections that it has in common with all
 other institutions. 


 It may possibly happen that
 you may hear of another such a chance for me to
 indulge my roving propensities. If so I must entreat
        