cam_hparker_2311_f002_010.2

14th Your kind letters of the 15th April & 31st May answer
in due season, the former the 31st May. The letter the 2nd inst
which continued the unwelcome news of the great con-
flagration which so suddenly reduced to ashes three
fine buildings beside destroying the fine yards & gardens
connected with them. I think Mr. Perry is the greatest
sufferer by this fire as he had just got nicely located &
his buildings so arranged as to conveniently accommodate
his pupils. It was by far the largest fire I ever knew of
in P. & its effects will long be seen. I suppose however that
the houses will all be rebuilt soon but probably not as
large as before & it will take not only money but a long
time to restore to those yards & gardens, the beauty they
once could boast of. Mrs Tucker wrote that she thought
quite likely that Dr. Howe would purchase the old place
where his father used to live, & enlarge it for his patients
as long as he had moved there. I think it would be a very
good location for him, & that he would like to own the
place as it was once his father's. You of course will write
me from time to time what is being done toward rebuilding.

I know of but little news to write you. I am not now
in any particular business but work around some by the
day for the most I can get which is much better than
doing nothing as i can very easily make enough to pay my
expenses. I hope however that I shall be able to get into
some kind of business again soon that will pay me better

Sam I suppose is at Columbia, what he is doing I
cannot say. Wm Shipley [William Shipley] is at work about, painting & paper
hanging & I sometimes work with. He is quite well