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                                                   Wilmington March 22nd/62 

Dearest Fanny, Two months ago I wrote you an [?] letter, but sought in vain an opportunity to send it. Yester day, the kindness of my young friend Gabri ella procured for me the required direction, but with the injunction that my communica tion must be restricted to a page, and not crossed. What can I compress within such a limit, but the assurance of continued attachment to my old friend; the friend of 50 years - in all whose concerns I feel an interest that death only can extin guish. Let no difficulties then prevent your writing nor will I - My husband has been very unwell this winter, the better now - and I am at least two years older in the last six months - but age does not chill the heart of your affectionate [MLM?]

I will study Spartan, before I send the next page-