
          Jane Street - 7 July 1849


 My dear friend--


 Tho' requiring no particular answer
 I should have acknowledged, before this, your kind &
 welcome letter of the 15th ulto. [ultimo] had I not been, ever
 since, so very unwell as to feel unfit for any thing.
 I have been constantly under the care of the Doctor,
 but, as yet, he has not been able to "make a job" of
 me. Perpetual nauscea [i.e nausea] & disordered bowels have
 kept me very miserable. Indeed, I have been quite
 unable to read or to amuse myself at [crossed out: any] times,
 & whilst lying on the sofa became very weary of my
 own (bad) company. Many times did I wish, in
 vain, for some gentle ministering hand, & for
 the solace & sympathies of our common nature. 


 However, I am now, thank god, somewhat
 better, tho' feeble enough, still-- & have agreed to 
 pass a week or two with Sam's family, who are
 at a farm House in West Chester. If I should recover
 my strength so as to be, in any sort, companionable,
 it is my wish & hope to spend a day or two with
 you. In the meantime, it is the principal object
 of my letter to prevent you-- should you visit NY--
 you
        