I should have been at Hartford before this, if our bill had passed or any definite action been had in the legislature regarding it. There have been several [247]calls upon us for information, which it has been a great deal of trouble to prepare, and as there is a very energetic and unscrupulous lobby at work against us, I can not leave while discussion is still pending. We have very little work, funds being very low.

I have not gone on with the printing of my book, but it is about ready. I don’t want it published or announced till after our next application to the Common Council has been acted upon, as it might prejudice that.

We continue in fair health. Owen is getting fat again & ruddy. Charley varies, but has no distinct ailment and is a good deal better than last year. Charlotte does not look very well but makes no complaint. Mary has some nervous & dyspeptic turns, but not very bad, and on the whole is better & better satisfied (& growing more so) than I ever saw her before.

Not finding that I could do anything else, I let the farm last week to a new tenant, a Long Islander named Hadley—for the interest on mortgage & taxes & ¼ fruit. I propose to get a mortgage on his movables for the rent. He seems a good young man & is an experienced market gardener. The agreement is but for one year. The Rail Road is going on, cars to run in August.

There are a great many projects on foot about the park & its management at Albany & here. I hope there will be no great change, and resist them all as far as I can. The public is strongly with the present management, but they do queer things at Albany & some body is spending a good deal of money in embarrassing us.

I hope to see [you] in course of a fortnight.