health for about two years past has been very precarious—it gave way so as to unfit him for work for several months, in the end of ’74 & beginning of last year; and I am sure you will be grieved to hear that it has now again so completely given way under the strain of professional practice, as to make in the opinion of his friends more than doubtful whether Dr Brown will ever be able safely to attempt regular practice as a physician again. The great chance, humanly speaking, of his still doing good work of any kind, would we are persuaded lie in his being relieved of the necessity of work altogether. But in the meantime he is all but entirely dependent on his current medical practice—(his writings having yielded him a large store of love and admiration, but only a little store of pocket money beside) and you may easily conceive what a depressing element this must add to health already broken.

It seems therefore to Dr Brown’s friends here that the time has come when they, with others far & near, might fairly venture to offer him that ease which is so essential to his comfort & recovery, by such a substantial token of their affection, as would render him independent of money cares for the future. I cannot think we will find it difficult to get all we need for this purpose from those who will deem it a pleasure to contribute, even though we shall inevitably exclude many a willing giver, by two important limitations on which nevertheless the grace & acceptability of the offering will mainly depend—1st that the thing be done quickly, and 2nd that it be done without publicity— Now while we have all had many, and many really touching proofs of the widespread affection with which Dr Brown’s name is regarded by friends known & unknown to him in the States, it is quite clear that comparatively few of these can be made aware of our purpose, without the publicity which it must be one of our main objects to avoid. We must trust to one or two known friends there being willing to take the trouble of doing what they can privately, and I hope you will agree to be one of these— In our consultation on the subject I ventured to say I thought you would—and that I would write to you accordingly—while the only other friend addressed in the meantime will be Mr Fields of Boston to whom Mr David Douglas writes by same post. If you agree to act we shall be glad to hear from you, with your ideas generally in the matter, as soon as possible—while if you know Mr Fields, or think it advisable, you might perhaps put yourself in communication with him at once. Our scheme (of which I scarcely say Dr Brown & his family know nothing) is not yet a week old, and is of course still rude and somewhat uncertain as to its details. But our object is within two or three months at most, to collect a fund of £5000 at least; and among those who have more or less independently suggested it, I think I may say £1000 are already secure. (CU-MARK)