RKFP-060

Newburgh Nov - 8' - 1853

Friend Kennicott

Yours of 23d came in due time, but I have been very busy in getting ready for winter &c. &c. or would have replied earlier - It will not do my dear friend to give up under troubles & difficulties, your troubles are great I know, but our duty is to rise above them & be as useful to society as our means & time will allow -- on the death of my broth er I felt so wretched I had no heart to do any thing & was ready to give up, but found it would not do & made an effort to rise above it & go on with my duties - which I think is the only right way -

I think you managed the convention well[underlined] except the members kept up such noise & confusion that it was not pleas ant to me - (not being used to it) - it did

not however seem to disturb them - on the whole I was much pleased with the convention & the people & would like to have had more opportunity to convene with them - but being so much engaged on the committee I had no time to make acquaintances -

You say "I hope you saw enough to pay your & Mr D. for your journey west" yes. & have not regretted the jaunt & if I was of any service to the convention, am glad of it, as to the report you know I left before the convention closed & Mr. [Thoeinx?] & Ernst was to make up the report, so that I know but little of what will be done - please send me a copy when published - - -

I report that my duties prevented me from taking some notes for my own use, which was a part of my object in going there - however if I live, will in the course of two or three years make a special visit for that purpose & go

further west & South - & see fruits as they grow - which is the only correct way to judge of them - - I was much pleased on my return from Chicago to Detroit to see young orchards growing up, almost every house (however small) had a few trees about it. This is right & hope the taste will increase, so that the people will use more fruit & vegetables & less meat & greasy food - which will I think be more healthy - I hardly know how I should get on without fruit particularly the sweet apples, both cooked & raw

I sent your penuts &c, as soon as it would do to take them up & trust you have received them by this time -

Do not forget to serve me a doz. or two of those fine potatoes, which you called pink eyes - you may send them in the spring with the plants which I took a mem orandum of at your place -

Mrs. D joins me in kind regard to your fam ily & all kind friends - Truly Yyours Chas. Downing