Petersboro

                                      July 3 1862

Lysander Spooner Esq.

     My d Sir,

          My health had been poor since my return from Bosotn. Only today (I am writing letters) have I taken up your "Diest's Reply." I have read but the 16^th oage. I am interested[?[ byt what I have read. But in important respects I depart from you. I think you greatly underrate[?] the new testament. To my mind no book containing __ pages so ____ & _____ to ______.

     The time you must _____  ______ in ____. I do not believe _____. _____ ____ would ____ term & _____ ____ utter them. But I ____ ____ in the light of what he alone could say.

     Why 4^th so page 40.[?] I was much interested in all you say of the power of imagination in ______.

     Feeling more ____ today I care _____ over "Prophecies & Repudiation" - _____ ____ I believe in the popular view of neither the one nor the other.

     I _____ you the pamphlet with my thanks.

                                  Your Friend

                                  Gerrit Smith