But, through a kind Providence, I have been thrown among most attentive, and kind, and skilful friends, who have treated me more like one of their own children than like a stranger.

Mrs.Vail has been a perfect mother to me; our good Nancy Shepard can alone compare with her.

Through her nursing and constant attention I am now able to leave my room and have been downstairs to-day, and hope to be out in a few days.

This sickness will, of course, detain me a while longer than I intended, for I must finish the portraits before I return." This refers to portraits of various members of the Vail family which he had undertaken to execute while he was in Morristown.

Farther on in the letter he says:-- "The machinery for the Telegraph goes forward daily; slowly but well and thorough.