John A. Steinbeck's diary, primarily during the Civil War, handwritten mainly in pencil, leather-bound, over 200pp, [195] 1859-1862

Plainfield Feb. 17/59

I have heard two of the lectures on Palestine delivered in this village by Mr. J.A. Steinbeck.

It gives me pleasure to recommend them to the public.

They give the hearer fresh and vivid impressions of men and things in that most interesting land & are peculiarly valuable since he speaks of that with which a residence of nearly nine years

has made him very familiar.

Theo. S. Brown[signed] Pastor of Second Prs. Ch in Plainfield

Plainfield Feb. 17/59

The course of lectures of Palestine by J A Steinbeck are highly interesting, both in matter & clearness of statement.

He enters fields which the temporary resident or the learned traveler is unacquainted with & is unable to touch in his hurried sketchs.

H.G. Mason Pastor of Second Bap. Ch in Plainfield

Plainfield Feb. 17. 1859

I have heard with great pleasure and profit all the lectures on life in Palestine recently delivered in this village by Mr. J.A. Steinbeck.

I know of no other means of obtaining so full and valuable information of that very interesting country as his lectures. No class of lectures are more worthy of patronage than his.

J. Bailey Pastor of the S.D. Baptist Church Plainfield

Plainfield N.J. 17 Feb 1859

I have heard with pleasure those lectures on the inhabitants of Palestine by Mr J A Steinbeck. He conveys to his hearer a clear & satisfactory impression of what he saw & heard in that interesting country & the information he imports is for the most part unlike that we read in books of travel. I can recommend his lectures as instructive & pleasing.

Jos. Stockland Chaplain, U.S. Navy