RK-418

[circled] 33 358 Home[double underline], Last day of the Year

Dear Bob - (at Wash)

Yours, of 23^d to me, & 26^th to mother, came in due course – I sent you the grammar (Latin) yesterday – and by the way have not missed a mail day since ^{we heard} you left – Have twice enclosed you letters – four, in all, I think –

Charlie left for Chicago yesterday – Perhaps better so – He was doing no good here. It is not certain, however, that he will stay more than a week or two – I am inclined to think he will soon return, for the newspaper can not more than pay his board.

I think you are right in paying some attention to Latin – enough to enable you name your own discoveries, without doing vio=lence to the rules of grammar.

If you dont devote too much time and attention thrto, working up the reptiles for professor Baird will doubtless be a good thing for you – almost equal to writing yourself –

Professor Kirtland sent you the Ohio Farmer containing an article of his, and from a Cleveland paper, sent us by Guy Cutting, I see that Mrs Kirtland is dead.

By the way, hope you will take time to give us an account of your trip to Washington – How you got on, and impressions of country &c.

You will get to writing, in time, I will be bound – You must not neglect the chance to make your expenses, and keep up the popular position, and extended advertisement your Patent office articles af=ford. Better defer your Journal of Red River & Pembina trip that neglect that. Though I am by no means certain that a sprightly and natural account of your journey would not attract more attention than any amount of Natural History – because it is a new theme, and you will have no competitors.

Be careful not to shock Professor Henry by any boyish actions. He is a great man and a due amount of dignified “deportment” suits a high station. We are the slaves of conventionalities

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One may think and feel as one pleases – but not act so, in the great world of conventionalisms.

There will be time enough for the “sights” when you feel unable to work; and time to deliver your letters when you want acquaintances. But don’t neglect either, for there is much too see, in Washington, that you can not afford to neglect; and you may find acquaintances useful, some time, or other.

Got a draft for $7. on a debt of $70. to-day – and last mail another promise of money, in a month. Pray say so, in time, that we may divide with you, in case you are like to run short. There is every prospect, now, that we shall be getting a little money, all along through the winter –

Jan. 1^st/1858

A Happy New Year to thee, my boy – and a Humboldt’s Share of them, – in usefulness and honor, added to the happiness. It is rather a sharp morning – cold and clear, – though quite soft yesterday, with a little snow in the morning – We have had mild weather most of the time since you left home.

The Major seems a good deal interested in his German studies and translations – and Clark (the young man who was at Uncle William’s) is putting the little boys through – I think he will very likely earn his board, if he holds out – and it is time the little fellows were able to read, if nothing more.

I enclose you an official letter to the Ill. delegation, from Francis – and you will probably receive letters from others. It is best to present all you get, but make it a point to ignore party pol=itics altogether – Hear but speak not on any of the exciting ques=tions of the day – unless it be a question common to all parties, or one in which all might naturally suppose interesting to you, apart from party politics. But the best plan, after all, will be to express no opinion at all, outside of your own concerns.

But you have tact enough to know when to keep silent, I do believe – and one who listens makes friends, if he does not gain knowledge – God Keep you – Old Father