Your letter reminds me that my memory is about worthless. As soon as I saw Adams cast a plate, & saw the gass gases bubbling up & escaping from the melted metal, I said to myself, that is the way to get rid of the brass gases; & when I saw the clay matrix come from the hot ordeal flawless & unharmed, I said to myself, it is nearly impossible that melted brass will hurt that clay. I feel very sure that your steel new base is going to solve the problem & sweep away our difficulties. Test it, right away, with your New York brass man. Osgood was here yesterday; says he will give us book-stamps to cast as soon as we are ready to attempt them. I think we can get more work than we can do, the minute we have proved the thing.

I telegraphed you, to Fredonia, to-day, to pay Dean $1100 or $1200 if you want to, & if that will fetch him.