I have moved to town & done nothing else since I last wrote but canvass for the Superintendent’s office: I am now awaiting the result; the Board being in session below a few doors. In the Committee on Offices & Salaries, night before last, I got the nomination by one vote & that of a member who unexpectedly came in town that evening, but at the same meeting the salary was fixed at $1500 instead of $3000. This was a sort of compromise; one party wanting that the Superintendent’s office should be equal in rank with that of Engineer; the other that it should be distinctly subordinate & that of a mere overseer of laborers. I am favored as a gentleman able to take the place of the Engineer, in case of his removal or death, by the first party. But one of these being a politician on the “retrenchment” tack, a compromise game was played, by which the office was given to me, but with the other sort of man’s salary to it. I have been so foolish as to think of declining to take the office at that salary, but having been bullied by a Know Nothing member, who had evidently calculated to get in his Candidate by getting me to step out of his way, and having had time to reflect, “what else can I do for a living?,” & also considering that the salary will probably be increased, if I prove the importance & responsibility of the office, I let it alone. It has been unfortunate for me that two of my friends in the Board have been living at Newport & New Haven. Whether they are present today, I don’t yet know. If not, I shall probably be defeated.

I am lodging at Margaret’s again, both your old girls are there. The back room is vacant. She & all hands well. Brace has got back after two months’ vacation; the last of which was spent with his wife & the Howard party in the Adirondack wilderness. He looks well & reports that they had a good time, ’Titia cooking, washing & tramping, & camping on hemlock & venison, pluckily. Henry Stevens & wife are here. I have not seen them but hear that they (she) are cutting a heavy swath in society, talking familiarly of their friend the Earl of Yarboro’ & Lady Tincklepan.

Putnam, including plates, stock, cuts, and all, sold for $3400, to be united to Emerson’s U.S. Magazine. The Schoolfellow good will sold for a trifle to Youth’s Cabinet. Curtis’ plates sold yesterday & the sheet stock of Seaboard & Texas at rather better price than had been expected. Other things not as well. (Trade Sale). I hold copy right & shall get some one to bid in plates, or take them at ¼ cost, which by my contract I am entitled to in case of failure of publishers. Of course they all belong to creditors, but I have some control over the disposition. Shaw acknowledges your claim to $400 on him personally. There is no other progress. He is selling as “receiver” for the creditors. [80] There continues to be the deuce to pay in Wall St. & hosts of failures, as you will see by the money articles. I send 8 papers by this.

I see my friend Edwards, pale, nervous, anxious, proper and evidently shinning, in the streets, but avoid meeting or a recognition. He is a bad as well as foolish man. Dix in slightly shabby clothing, goes about distributing a paste board. [J. A. Dix. Insurance Broker, 40 WALL STREET. Office of U.S. Insurance Company.] i.e. he is authorized to solicit for life insurance, by this company. Elliott is undetermined. My particular friend Godkin, has been getting in love with Fanny Foote, Elliott’s niece, a charming girl, & will marry her I think. He is the best fellow here.

I think I wrote you, Field heard of the death of his baby. They returned Wednesday. I spent a day—Sunday—on the island with them. They are the best people—he is the best man—I know. He holds father’s boot at his disposal, not having found the one legged beggar.

The offices of Engineer & Superintendent—are thus (at the last meeting) defined—“The Chief Engineer shall have the entire control, direction & responsibility of all persons employed on the park, under the supervision and instruction of the Board. He shall execute such plans as may be decided upon by the Commission, and layout and direct all operations, both preparatory and final, which the Commission shall direct.—

“The Superintendent, during the progress of active operations shall personally attend to the force employed in the Park, see that all give due attention to their duty and report to the Engineer any neglect or dereliction therefrom, which he may discover. He shall co-operate with the Engineer in the execution of the details of the work which may be laid out, and when any portion or portions of the plans agreed upon have been carried out, attend to its proper preservation as completed. He shall have charge of the general police of the Park to see that the ordinances of the Board are respected & obeyed. He shall report to the Board upon matters not pertaining to the construction of the work, monthly.”