Cleveland, Dec 29, 1851

Dear Spooner,

     I am glad you & my wife have entered upon a correspondence & have no doubt you will find her a much better correspondent than you ever found in me.

     I have omitted to send you any of our papers, because, first, I did not believe they would be worth, to you, the postage; & next, I supposed you might have a chance to be our weekly ____ at Hildreth’s. I have in it about all the freedom I wish, under exacting[?] circumstances. I do not think I could have done anything at Chicago. The one or two persons I talked with from there, I did not fancy at all. It _____ have been a starving [?] concern, probably I have lost all faith in going for all things all at once, & getting neither pay nor readers. I am not sure of making anything out of the True Democrats. The Establishment is expensive, & my quarter of it is to cost me considerably. But I like my position, incomparably better than any other I have occupied since I knew you.

     You must have been pleased to find Hildreth talking your law notions to the New York Bar. Some one must put your _____ note[?] in his hands, with Marshall[?] passages--the in which your[?] honor[?] both expressed & demonstrated certain opinions which the great [margin:] shot [?] I send by ____, as it were. Let us hear from you. I never shall [?] be so busy but I should feel bound to give[?] as mail as ____ will send; so far, I ____, an ____ are concerned. _____ was much pleased [?] ____ with your letter; I need not say, so was I. Yours with all my heart, as ever more[?] I know you. Bradburn.

[Margin:] P.S. Thanks for what you wrote of Dr. Hoyt. I hope he’ll do well, anyhow. Don’t forget me to him, nor to his.

[Margin:] P.S. Quick [?]. Was not Hildreth’s last (6^th) volume published some time ago?