DearⒶemendation Sirs: I read the copies of the Record you sent with a double-sized interest—a kind of double-barrelled professional interest, so to speak—i. e. a riverman’s interest in the topics treated, &Ⓐemendation a scribbler’s interest in the manner of the treatment. In the whole three numbers I found only one name whose owner I was positively sure I had ever seen—Tom Scott—for there was no way of telling whether the W. J. Kountz mentioned was a new edition or the same old one. Now, either a good many good men have been discharged without sufficient cause since I left the river, or else several have died. It does not seem to me that I have been ashore long, yet I find mention in your paper of boats that have been born, have seen long &Ⓐemendation faithful service, &Ⓐemendation been retired to the junk shop, worn out with old age, since my day. Yours is a very good paper, but it makes a person baldheaded to read it.

The articles you speak of have not been published in book form in this country, for the reason that they have never been finished. They are to be finished &Ⓐemendation issued in book form after I shall have found time to make a trip up &Ⓐemendation down the river to post myself anew.