39

New Haven
March 31st
1852
My dearest Sister
I am sorry
that your very affectionate letter
which gave me so very much
pleasure should have so long
been unanswered but you
may be assured that my silence
has not been caused by any
want of inclination to write,
but rather by the pressure
of external circumstances, over
which, as you have frequently
heard it remarked, ordinary
mortals have little or no
control. I regretted to learn
by dearest Mother's last Kind
letter that little King had

I hope you received my letter thanking
you for your dear likeness. My lithograph
will soon be up from N.G. [indecipherable] they
are great friends [?] [indecipherable] [indecipherable] you a half
dozen.

Please excuse
the bad writing
you find
in this, for
I have not
spent much
time on it.
Mall is well
& [indecipherable]
[indecipherable] [indecipherable]
love & many
Kisses to you
& dearest Mother & your
dear children.
Love to Mr Couper
& beg him [indecipherable]
which Couper
you soon [?] will
[indecipherable] [indecipherable] to
you [indecipherable]
H.P. King