YourⒶemendation letter is just received. I would have given just anything in the world, nearly, to trade a few pious lies with the river men who are to attend the Convention, but I am putting a book through the press, &Ⓐemendation this sort of work requires not merely daily but hourly attention; so that if I were even invited to attend my own funeral I simply couldn’t go; they would have to play a dummy on the mourners &Ⓐemendation hold on with the monument indefinitely.

With many thanks for the invitation, &Ⓐemendation very sincere regrets that I am not able to take advantage of it, I offer my best wishes &Ⓐemendation the right hand of fellowship to the assembled journalists &Ⓐemendation the Board of Trade (for I am of both crafts, through my manifold lines of usefulness), &Ⓐemendation remain truly yours,