Letters of Rev. John W. Alvord

shown their committee by Mr. Packard. Also their Depositary C. Godfrey wants you to send samples of all your childrens books — ie S.S books to him — thinks he can do something with them. Will try to interest their committee in making business connections with us. Let choice samples come. Now is the time to hook on to these publication societies. They want new works to make a noise with, but have not means to get up things of their own. Please them if you can. They all evidently see that we are in the drift of the times — & competent to produce what they must have. Their active men in the depositories see this more quickly than their committees. They also sympathize with us more intimately — & assure me that they can sell from their counties what some in their committees, would not allow to be published & so desire to take the above steps in getting samples &c that ^hoping it^ may lead to ^permanent^ business connections.

Mrs. Hamilton you have strong hold of, & she is a host — said to be the most accomplished bookseller in Phil^a. J. W. Bradley will pay the $26 for [illegible], but his bookkeeper was out, & could not [illegible] to the [illegible]. Let the 50 Memos come at once—as I hope if Bro. Luther gets hold of this city canvass he will want several hundreds. All the others will do something with it from their shelves—Bro. Bruick is to do the same (ie canvass) in N. Y.— Have been striving up the Young Mens Christn Assoc. here.

Yours truly J. W. Alvord