
          Cambridge Saturday Evening. 17th Feby. [February]


 My Dear Doctor 


 Your kind favor of the ____ postmarked 15th 
 inst. [instant] reached me this morning, just as I was going to town with a 
 great press of business which has occupied me the whole day, 
 or I should have answered it it [at] once. I have had much 
 anxiety about young Macrae of Montreal, who came on here
 three days ago - made me a visit early in the morning, and who 
 is evidently laboring under partial insanity. Surprised at his 
 conduct I hurried to town, [crossed out: says?] [added: saw] Tuckerman, whom he had kept up 
 all night, and became convinced, as was all the family there, that 
 he was really insane. Tuckerman, to whom he had com=
 mitted the charge of his money & his pistol, we agreed should keep 
 him that day, get him to sleep, which he had not done for 
 days, and then, if not showing more sanity take him quietly 
 to the Asylum here, an admirably arranged institution. 


 I called upon Greene to secure his counsel, and returned 
 to Cambridge with the conviction that all would be well arranged. 
 (Macrae was on his way to England via New York, for no 
 earthly purpose that I can see. How his friends could allow 
 him to leave home surprises me. From what Mr. Casey spoke 
 of his conduct at Niagara last Summer, I have no doubt he 
 has been partially deranged at times for months.) 


 What was my surprise, on returning to Boston to-day, to find 
 that Tuckerman, merely because Macrae insisted upon going,
 from mere irresolution & timidity gave Macrae his money [added: & pistol!] 
 and allowed him to go on to New York! 


 You may see Macrae, indeed I wish you would see 
 [Samul?], Casey at once, if you have heard nothing of him,
 and let him see whether any thing can now be done. My letter 
 will explain any strange Conduct that may have been observed. 
 Had I time to give you the particulars, you could feel no 
 doubt that the poor fellow has lost the control of his 
 reason: though at times rational, and even suspicious of his 
 situation. He asked Tuckerman once if he had not best to go 
 for a while to the insane asylum!
        