By some accident your letter never came to my hands until yesterday, when I found it among some lose papers. I cheerfully comply with your request, & thank you very sincerely for the friendly sentiments expressed in your letter. I trust, & in some degree hope, that you will be able to send us as good tidings from the Bay, as we shall, I am confident, be able to forward you from the Empire State. The public mind is all right, & all we have to fear is over-confidence.