For Mrs. Clemens & myself I hasten to thank you cordially for this exquisite remembrancer, these lovely flowers. If you will let me say it, it is like coming to us yourselves, in a body, these gracious creatures do so worthily & so truly represent your own fresh bloom & grace & beauty.

It is a very touching attention you have paid us, & we cannot tell in words how much we value it & are gladdened by it.

Although I am doubtless to be absent a long time, I am too proud of my patriarchal position in the Club to be willing to either resign it or allow another to occupy it in the interregnum. I beg, instead, the privilege of appointing a vacant chair, of ordinary pattern, to represent me & my wisdom on occasions when I ought to be present in my official capacity—& mark you, there are malignants who will tell you that a vacant chair is able to represent me & my wisdom very well—but no matter, you will see in it only a reminder that the spirit of one is there whose body is absent: & trust me that will be entirely true.

Begging that you will keep the Club compact & strong, & neither suffer it to languish nor die—for it is worthy to outlive us all—we offer our affectionate good-byes, & our sincere wishes for the lasting peace & happiness & prosperity of each & every one of you.