Dear General—I am happy to know that you have taken possession of your new establishment, and presume you will be eminently successful and happy in it, together with your good and family. You are no doubt already aware that I have had a most interesting visit from your most excellent and worthy friend, President , with whom I have had a most glorious frolic in the clear blue ocean; for most assuredly a frolick it was, without a moment’s reflection or consideration. Nothing of this kind would in the least attach me to your person or cause. I am capable of being a most undeviating friend, without being governed by the smallest religious influence.

As you have proved yourself to be a philosophical divine, you will excuse me when I say that we must leave their influence to the mass. The boldness of your plans and measures together with their unparallelled success, so far, are calculated to throw a charm over your whole being, and to point you out as the most extraordinary man of the present age. But my mind is of so mathematical and philosophical a cast, that the divinity of Moses makes no impression on me, and you will not be offended when I say that I rate you higher as a legislator than I do Moses, because we have you present with us for examination; whereas Moses derives his chief authority from prescription and the lapse of time. I cannot, however, say but you are both right, it being out of the power of man to prove you wrong. It is no mathematical problem, and can therefore get no mathematical solution. I say, therefore, go a head, you have my good wishes. You know Mahomet had his “right hand man.”

The celebrated Thomas Brown, of is now engaged in cutting your head on a beautiful cornelian stone as your private seal, which will be set in gold to your order, and sent to you. It will be a gem, and just what you want. His sister is a member of your . The expense of this seal set in gold will be about $40. and Mr. Brown assures me that if he were not so poor a man he would present it to you free. You can, however, accept it or not, as he can apply it to another use. I am, myself, short for cash, for although I had some time since $2000 paid me by the Harpers, publishers, as the first installment on the purchase of my copy right, yet I had got so much behind during the hard times, that it all went to clear up old scores. I expect $38,000 more, however, in semi-annual payments from those gentlemen, within the limits of ten years, a large portion of which I intend to use in the State of , in the purchase and conduct of a large tract of land, and therefore should I be compelled to announce, in this quarter, that I have no connection with the , you will, of course, remain silent, as I shall do it in such a way as will make all things right.

I may yet run for a high office in your , when you would be sure of my best services in your behalf, therefore a known connection with you would be against our mutual interest. It can be shown that a commission in the legion was a Herald hoax, coined for the fun of it, by me, as it is not believed even now by the public. In short I expect to be yet, through your influence, Governor of the State of .

My respects to , , , and all friends.

P. S. As the office of Inspector General confers no command on me, being a mere honorary title, if, therefore, there is any gentleman in who would like to fill it in a practical way, I shall with great pleasure and good will resign it to him, by receiving advice from you to that effect. It is an office that should be filled by some scientific officer.