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365 Fourth St 5th June [18]’63

My dear Mrs. King

On coming home today to dinner the first thing presented to me was your letter, or packet; and the enclosure for Ann will be enclosed in my letter to her by the “Etna” that sails tomorrow. –

I follow the [examples?] that she did during my long absence in Eng= =land in ’61 2: [1861-2] – no sooner do I send off one letter, than I commence another, thus sending her a sort of “Journal” twice a week – which would be far more interesting if my deafness did not debar, to so great an extent, the knowledge of passing events.

I shall be only too glad at any time to become, as now invited, the medium of communication between you & her – and all the more so if you

                   her

have anything to tell ^ that is cheering or encouraging in the condition of

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(2) Mrs. Duer. – In the very letter I had written to Ann, that will enclose yours, I had called her attention to a book, a copy of which came by the Persia as a present from a gentleman in England to Sarah’s friend Miss Dunning, & which I thought might perhaps be an acceptable testimonial from herself to Mrs. Duer. – Its title was “Rays of Sunshine for Dark Days” with two lines on the title page very applicable to its contents: “Take wing my soul, & mount up higher, Since earth fulfils not the desire.”

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If you prefer to send any letters direct [underscored] that you may write to Ann, her address throughout her stay in England will be as follows:

“Care of Miss Bold No. 11 Welfield Place Princes Park Liverpool.”

I hope the next letter I get from her will tell me that the injury to her eye – which was a more serious

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(3) affair, or at least more lasting [underscored], than her previous sea-letter had led one to expect – has vanished altogether amidst the exquisite verdure (that you & I once beheld together) and the quiet of Sedgwick; for if no longer in need of attendance [on?] Dr. Neill, these ought, in her present condition, to be a great aid, far better for her than the racket & excitement of Liverpool.

Sarah with my sanction (rather than approbation) went off yesterday to remain with Miss Dunning until Monday. – It is rather on her own account than mine, that I dislike so long an absence in that quarter.

If the weather, & other matters should [?], I have some notion of paying my respects to you, after dinner, on Sunday next, & thus judging for my=

self of what you say of the loveli

=ness of Highwood: - but indeed it has always seemed to me at every period of the year to [desire?] that epithet of “lovely.” –

Ever since the commencement of the present year, when our nephew Walker left our office, in which he was the

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(4) sole assistant of Matthew & me, I have been filling his post of book- =keeper, & thus had rather a harder or more irksome task than I liked.

But of his own accord, & at his own request, he will resume his old post next week, which will of course [?] =[?] the more leisure to his uncles.

He has also of his own accord resumed his residence in 4th St. since Ann left us, instead of living at Staten Island. –

I thus hope to be a more frequent visitor at Highwood during the ensuing summer than has been in my house within the last 12 mo[nth]s

yours truly Rutson Maury

To Mrs. King Highwood.