Correspondence (outgoing)

The election is over. I come out of it to the satisfaction of friends and without a stain of any kind. Thomas will give you particulars. Phillip, Mary and the children have been visiting us through the week we have had a very pleasant time. Phillip went down to the Bay yesterday. All well Ever your affectionate son Leland Stanford

Sacramento Nov 19th 1859 Dear Father + Mother Enclosed please find first of exchange No 11252 for the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000.00) drawn by [Donills?] [M?] on the American Exchange Bank of NYork and payable to the order of DC Stanford. I expect to lend Thomas $500.00 by [?] steamer. The mail steamer that left NYork on the 20th Oct has not yet been heard from and consequently we have no letter from you to answer. We are all quite well. Business quite satisfactory. We have had a heavy [rain?]. [Grap?] is starting [finally?]. The weather warm and delightful. Good bye your affectionate son Leland Stanford

Port Washington Dec 20th 1837 Dear Brother, This is a fine wholesome Sunday evening. [Sonnie?] and I have just returned from a walk and I find myself so well braced up in consequence, that I have the inclination to write and the courage to perform a neglected duty. (For so I regard my neglect to write to you, now then that I have made this frank acknowledgement.) I trust you will excuse me, and lay it all to preoccupation rather than to a want of inclination - And now I have but half a sheet of paper for my [epistle?], that being as large a price as I can find in Mrs. Stanford[s?] [portfolio?]. But if I fill that I do the best I can, and you know "That he who does the best he can, Acts well, acts nobly" [?] I have not heard directly from any of our folks in a long time, but I learn from letters received by [Jane?] that you are home, spending a vacation. I am glad to learn that you are home in consequence of a vacation, for I had feared from what Father said in one of his letters, that you would be obliged to leave school in consequence of your eyes failing. Now as to your eyes, if they fail you it is because you use them too hardly. You study too many hours, as I am satisfied most students do. I am satisfied partly from experience partly from observation, and partly from reflections that too much time is generally spent by students in study so called, that is with a book before [their?] eyes, with their eyes directed to it. I do not think it possible for any mind to be able to [pap?] the entire day and

evening in close fruitful study. A half a dozen hours a day of [real?] close study, the whole alienation [suggested?] and concentrated with the subjects of study are as much as most minds can bear. The mind wants rest and recreation as much as the body. The mind will suffer from [repletion?] as well as the stomach neither should receive more than can be well digested. Have you not often found after having [your?] whole attention engrossed with some interesting study for a considerable length of time, a difficulty to confine your attention and to grasp the subject. There is a good deal in the old saying 'The more [hassle?] the less [spend?]'. Do not think me officious in offering my remarks. I make them from a conviction of their truth. It is a great [asset?] to be able to confine the attention and concentrate all the powers of the mind upon a given object. Too much study dissipates the attention. In the real practical world, in coping with men in [impressing?] them with your opinions, attention and concentration of powers are much in the securing of an end. These when [exerted?] give a superior will, and a strong concentrated will commands, it [magnetizes?] it controls. There is much [mesmerism?] in society, and the strong willed concentrated mind is the mesmerizer, the weak willed the mesmerized. But I will weary you with the [subject?]. I have to thank you for the address to your society you sent me. We are [wondering?] much that we do not hear whether Charles has arrived or not. If no accident has happened [him?], he must be [home?] as Josiah [saying?] a letter received from him that Charles [left?] for home on the 4th Oct

Jane sends her love to all. No more now from your affectionate brother T.T.W. Stanford Esq Leland Stanford

COPY Port Washington, Dec. 20th, 1857

Dear Brother.

This is a fine wholesome sunday evening. [Sonnie?] and I have just returned from a walk and I find myself so well braced up in consequence, that I have the inclination to write and the courage to perform a neglected duty. For so I regard my neglect to write to you. Now then that I have made this frank acknowledgement, I trust you will excuse me, and lay it all to preoccupation rather than to a want of inclination. And now I have but half a sheet of paper for my [epistle?], that being as large a piece as I can find in Mrs. Stanfords [portfolio?]. But if I fill that I do the best I can, and you know "That he who does the best he can, Acts well, acts nobly, etc."

I have not heard directly from any of our folks in a long time, but I learn from letters received by Jane that you are home, spending a vacation. I am glad to learn that you are home in consequence of a vacation, for I had feared from what Father said in one of his letters, that you would be obliged to leave school in consequence of your eyes failing.

Now as to your eyes, if they fail you it is because you use them too hardly. You study too many hours, as I am satisfied most students do. I am satisfied partly from experience partly from observation, and partly from reflections that too much time is generally spent by students in study so called, that is with a book before [their?] eyes, with their eyes directed to it. I do not think it possible for any mind to be able to pass the entire day and evening in close fruitful study. A half a dozen hours a day of real close study, the whole attention engrossed and concentrated with the subjects of study are as much as most minds can bear. The mind wants rest and recreation as much as the body. The mind will suffer from reflection as well as the stomach. Neither should receive more than can be well digested. Have you not often found after having your whole attention engrossed with some interesting study for a considerable length of time, a difficulty to confine the attention and concentrate all the powers of the mind upon a given object. Too much study dissipates the attention. In the real practical world, in coping with men in [impressing?] them with your opinions, attention and concentration of powers are much in the securing of an end. These when exerted give a superior will, and a strong concentrated will commands, it [magnetizes?] it controls. There is much mesmerism in society, and the strong willed concentrated mind is the