Chapter XXX: Letter XXIII: Philadelphia,

_Dear Sir_,--I must be pardoned for declining to loan the books you mention. The fact is, I have lost many volumes in this way--and as you are personally unknown to me you will excuse my complying with your request.

Yours, &c.

JOSEPH Y. MILLER, ESQ.

This is a very good MS.--forcible, neat, legible, and devoid of superfluous ornament. Some of the words are run together. The writing slopes considerably. It is too uniform to be picturesque. The lines are at equal distances, and a broad margin is on the left of the page. The chirography is as good at the conclusion as at the commencement of the letter--a rare quality in MSS.--and evincing _indefatigability_ of temperament.