
          Middletown, Ct. March 25, 1846

My dear Sir,

Your very acceptable favor
came to hand last evening, and found me
suffering with the cuts and bruises occasioned
by the bursting of a CO2 tube [added: a few hours before] [in?] my hands
and face. Fortunately, my eyes escaped unhurt,
but two fingers of my left hand and my face
are badly cut. But why so careless? I suppose
you are disposed to ask. The particulars are hardly
worth detailing, but it was one of those accidents
that will sometimes occur, in spite of every
precaution.

I will not attempt to disguise the fact
that I was particularly gratified to receive
your favor; for though I have no claim upon you,
it is not therefore any the less agreeable to be remembered
by one for whom I had conceived so high
an esteem. But do not suppose I have felt
any disposition to complain, because, of my not
receiving a reply to my request with reference
to the Willoughby Medical School. Not at all!
I know too well the constant and pressing
demands upon your time, and did not fail
to adopt the correct hypothesis in reference to
        