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Inquiring after sale of Mr. Door’s marsh lands near Detroit.

Describes New Year's festivities in New York City. Prefers the countryside, but enjoys the art, books, and lectures in the city. Notes Professor Silliman's geology lectures at the Lyceum of Natural History. Notes his remarks on coal and providential design. Comments on learning Italian under Pietro Maroncelli, his political persecution in Italy, and imprisonment.

Dislikes Missouri and its residents. Believes it "the spot to see the glorious fruits of charlatanism," particularly quack medicine. Discusses a friend, a physician, who toured the South and plans on leaving Missouri as well.

Will try to send carrot and onion seeds, but the price is high for onions due to low supply. Discusses the best shipment route. Letter written on printed seed price list for Belden's "annual collection of garden seeds, raised in his garden."

Glad to hear that they safely made it Ohio. News of family and friends in Vermont. Discusses the "great many Deaths around us," including a number from smallpox and "lung fever." Includes a poem about remembrance and separation. A list of items and their prices appears on the back, including mare feed, saffron, sweet flag, skunk cabbage, licorice stick, and others.

Sending two boxes of marine shells to Parsons, President of the Rhode Ilsand Society of Natural History. Including a catalogue of J. C. Jay's "Cabinet of Shells" and encourages electing him as a corresponding member of the society. "… he is one of the best Conchologists in the country; and is liberal in distributing shells."

Giving proxy to Odiorne for meeting of the Hydraulic Company, in hopes of expediting the "legal organization of the company." Committed to providing Boston with fresh drinking water. Studied Philadelphia's water system.

Doctor's bill for a long series of visits and medicines to treat Sanford's sick mother.

Delayed in their journey on account of a “disaster at sea.” Lost all of their goods and his wife, Marianne, has taken gravely ill with the influenza. The doctor fears her lungs are diseased and urges them to travel to Florida to help restore her health. “The course which Doct Phillips prescribes is designed to bring out the irritation of her throat & lungs to the surface by means of ointment to the chest & a blister to the arm.” Fearful that Marianne may die. Encourages her mother to come to Florida to tend to her. “I do feel that the presence of one of you- her Mother particularly- would do more to restore her to health than all other means combined.”

Printed circular with manuscript additions regarding an act calling for the establishment of an Asylum “for the insane poor of this commonwealth.” Resolution to create a committee to keep track of the numbers of the “insane and idiots” in each county and other relevant information. The committee is made up of Joseph Konigmacher, John W. Nesbitt, Wm. A. Crabb, Richard Brodhead Junior, and James H. Laverty. Provides a list of eight questions for the committee to answer for each county, including queries regarding who supports themselves financially, the annual expenses incurred by each person, what medical attendance they receive, and the employment status of those not receiving special provisions. Manuscript note reading “Please acknowledge the receipt of this circular” signed by Joseph Konigmacher.