Poughkeepsie December. 12th 1867. My dear Doct. E. L. M. Yours of last Saturday8 date came duly to hand, giv- ing me an account of your surjournings to the place of your birth,—you were more fortunate than a certain Lady was when asked by a gentleman the place of her nativity, who reply! O she had none as she was the wife of a Methodist Minister! But laying puns asside, we very much regretted you and you good wife' absence from our sociable on the evening of the 6th current, for we had realy a happy joyfull time of it,—numbering some hundred & odd guests, composed of the Faculty, Prof8, and Teachers of the College, with our City (College) Trustees, and other notables, made up a party of pleasentry & social chat,—seldom equaled for literary distinction especialy at the tables of refreshments, It was realy a mental & physical feast, the latter was got up by our best caterers for the inner-man in our City,—so you see your " hopes of our having a good time " of it has been reilised. Yours in the Traces &c &c, M. Vassar 347 51: