Mary has suffered a good deal and between pain & the hot weather is considerably pulled down. As soon as well enough now, she will go some where, I don’t know where, but if possible to some mountain place, within easy reach. Baby & children well—except Charlotte; who wilts.

The long dry weather has been severe on the park, especially as the Croton Board cut off our pipe supply, but the trees are doing tolerably well. The Commissioners are scattered, two in Europe, & we get no Board business done. Am working 2000 men. Water keeps well up & clear, in the lake, to my surprise. Our Annual Report will be soon published, & will be sent you.

Back Country is all ready for delivery—will be published I suppose 1st of August. Has been favorably noticed in Post & Times.

Vaux and I have engaged to furnish a preliminary plan for “the Commissioners for laying out the upper part of Manhattan island”—1800 acres of very rugged & beautiful ground—impracticable to be brought into the square street & avenue system of the rest of the island. We have six months to do it in, two competent military engineers, Col. Asboth and Mr. Rosa, to assist us, all surveying expenses to be paid, and our own compensation (clear of all expenses except travelling, &c) to be $2500 (the firm, Olmsted & Vaux), with a chance for further employment. Asboth & Rosa are to be paid $1500 a year & there is a Secretary at $500. We have orders from E. K. Collins to proceed with the topographical survey of his ground, 300 acres at New Rochelle.

The Staten Island Rail Road is said to be doing unexpectedly well & South side property is rising. As I understand the matter, we can not sell the farm if we wish to. That is, I do not see how we can, though I have understood you to assume that we could. Under the law, does it not belong to the children, & must it not be held for them till of age? Green, whose advice I asked about selling it, says so—& that the Judge could not order it sold under the circumstances—or [257]that if he did, the title would be questionable. How is it? If it can be sold, the present rising tide of the market should be watched at least.

I hold tolerably well. How are you & where are you going for air tonic?