Brooklyn, Dec. 21/55

My dear friend,

Day before yesterday I rec^d your letter—too late to answer it that day. Yesterday forenoon I went over to the City & called upon the C House Broker with whom I had left the Invoice &c. of the goods contained in the box expected from England. I learned that the vessel had not arrived. All vessels from England at this Season have long passages. I went to 48 Beckman St. & purposed writing to you. There I found a telegram from you. I answered it immediately & deferred writing until today.

Your letter was 3 or 4 days reaching me.

So you see, dear Douglass, that I did not neglect your request—nor will I ever if alive & well.

I am glad to learn what you say about your lecturing tour, & I hope that your lectures that are to follow will be equally successful in sowing good seed & more successful at [illegible] you with the material.

My wife wants me to say, the [gratification?] she has derived from reading your history has been very great. She reads it over & over again. Its contents will be [cast] up in our hearts. And of another we hold very dear. Love to your family.

Yr affect friend

Lewis Tappan