RK-017

Asylum Feb. 6^th 1854, Dear Bob: I received your cheerful and entertaining letter this morning, and hasten to ac= knowledge and return thanks for the same. It is with no small degree of satisfaction that I learn of your successful progress in the valuable studies you have undertaken and are now pursuing with so much ardor. I quite agree with you in pronouncing Natural History a noble and most interesting study. I shall be glad to avail myself of your instructions next summer. I am right glad to hear that time jogs on so merrily with you. Father from whom I got a letter on

Saturday appears to be highly gratified with the documents received from you, he thinks you are bound to make a stir in the world, and for my part I don't see but what he has good reason for making such an assertion. By to-days mail I rce'd two ^letters besides your epistle one from cousin Maria and the other from my old friend Joe Larned- Joe assures me that I am not forgotten among my old Buffalo friends. The old Club is in a very flourishing condition. One day week before last I was greatly surprised on hearing the announcement that a visitor was waiting to see me in the Dr. Office - said visitor proved

to be our old friend Tod Drullard who is attending school at Clinton some 8 miles from this place I was right glad to see an old familiar face - and the news which Tod had to tell me of old friends was very acceptable. I rec'd a pleasant letter from him on Saturday in which he requires your address and expresses his intention of writing you. Tod said that when he came to see me he had expected to find me in close confinement and under guard - but instead of that he found me enjoying the freedom of the city - by which you will understand that I am allowed to go out whenever so disposed. You who have never been shut up for weeks and

months can have no idea of the effect upon me when [Illegible] [Illegible] granted me this privelige at the same Time Telling me that I might go home early in March. I am much happier than I was Bob. I feel more like myself every day and I begin to look forth to a return home with something like hope. I thank you Bob for the kind sympathizing words with which you close you letter. God bless you Bob - and may you never have need of such comfort. Remember me to Charlie and let me hear from you soon. Charlie