Lowell, Wednesday, June[?] 18, 1851

Dear Spooner:

     H’s cold hangs on so, that we have concluded to make no attempt to get to Boston until Monday in the forenoon next. We may remain at Hildreth’s one, tow, or three weeks, provided, of course, we shall not get turned out of the house before we shall get ready to leave. I asked Sewall to tell you when to expect me in the City. But, as he may not meet you reasonably, I have concluded to give you the information by mail.

     I have requested Hildreth & Sewall to forward to me, at Lowell, any letters they may have for me. Such letters may be mailed at Boston up to as late an hours as 3,P.M., of Saturday next; after which time, they would not find me here. My notes to them were sent by a private hand. Should it come right for you to do so, you may jog their memories in the premises, on, if they shall not have read [?] my notes, tell them of my wishes.

     I am vexed, that that fat Bates should be bruited[?], hereabouts, as “the Father of American Cheap Postage”. Some time ago, I noticed, in the Boston Transcript, an article very favorable to your claims. But, since then, I think the same paper has alleged the whole of our gratitude for cheap postage to be due to Rowland Hill.

     I hear, that Stanton, in the late N.Y. election, “lost his temper, & fell to abusing” Gerrit Smith, who had been in the field against him for a week. I am also told, that Stanton lost his election in consequence of having so fallen upon his old friend.

     ______ paper, it has been intimated to me, is also to be merged in the new one of Douglass & Thomas’s.

                             _____ truly,

                             Geo. Bradburn