
          St Louis Octob 23rd 1858

My Dear Doctor

It was very stupid
in me not to have answered
your kind and early communications.

I might have told you
to forward the package to Gray
who was sending me a whole
lot of things. These have
come now, and the opportunity
is thus lost.

I have also neglected to
write to Mr. Thurber and to
Mr. Buckley.

But some little excuse
should be found in my present
distracted state. I have
moved to my house only a
week ago and am in the
midst of every kind of
confusion, while for the first
six weeks of my stay here
I have been moving about

        