You will have received a note from Mrs. Olmsted stating that it was impracticable to obtain from me an immediate reply to your communication of the 25th June. I was at the time in Tennessee, going southward. Before leaving home I had been advised that Harvard was intending to honor me with the degree of Doctor of Laws and that it was desired that I should personally present myself to receive it on the Commencement day. I had promised to do so and my journey south and west was accordingly arranged so that I might be back in Boston the evening before that day. Had I received your note before making this engagement I should have been in New Haven and have very gladly availed myself of your kind invitation.

You probably know that having been prevented from pursuing the regular college course for which I had been partly prepared I was admitted formally by the Faculty to attend the Scientific and other lectures at Yale and was made an “honorary member” of the class of 1847. I have always held myself to be in this sense a Son of Yale and am most grateful to have been considered by the corporation as not only worthy of this formal association but of the high honor given me as representative of my profession.

I am, dear sir,

Most respectfully Yours