
It is very mortifying to me not to be in a position to send you even a small portion
of the balance your you're
due. We are in a
much better locality for retail trade, and we hope to stir up a better mail trade by
a new list which we shall send out soon. But we cannot hope for anything very satisfactory,
considering the unprecedented stagnation in all business circles, for several weeks.
Assuming A.K.B. & Co.'s liabilities at such a time as this has made it very awkward
for me. I never was in debt before. The business would be unmixed pleasure to me were
my capital larger, as I think I can serve humanity better by distributing good books
than in any other way. The first opportunity
that can be made, something will be sent you. I regret the inability to
promptly settle more as I have understood you have never been paid by others who
kept your books on sale. There seems no reason to doubt a good business being done
here in a few weeks—in the early fall. I hope your health is improving. Many
persons ask us about you, and take a keen interest in your welfare. I regret that I
am not so situated as to be able to extend you an invitation to visit New York, and
offer you comfortable quarters here while you remain; but I do not "keep house"; have
no family; and I vibrate between New York and Brooklyn as to sleeping quarters, not
having any fixed habitation. Some one is compiling a book for the use of "Liberals"
at funerals, etc. I have called his attention to your poem on Death ("Dark mother,"
etc.), which I consider the finest ever written.

