Brownson has waited to get the election results before writing his son. He is happy to know of Henry's good health and is convinced that the salt water and salt air in a cold climate will be necessary to Henry for some years. Brownson is dissatisfied with the climate where he lives and finds himself in a disgusting lassitude as a result of it. It provokes the use of stimulants, and at the same time renders them hurtful. The same climate exixts in New York and along the coast from New Haven to the Rio Grande and to some extent through the interior of the western and southwestern states. The finest and healthiest parts of the country are the upland sections of the states lately in rebellion as well as the states and territories on the western slope of the Rocky mountains in addition to the New England States. Old Tom Wally, who had travelled over the globe, always insisted that Boston had the best climate of any city in the world although he did not pretend that Massachusetts has the best soil. Brownson is pleased that Henry has furnished his quarters so well and so inexpensively and hopes to enjoy them with him either at Fort Warren or Fort Independence. He hopes to visit his son in the Spring despite his recent attack of illness which left him too lame to walk much. The elections have gone to the Republicans thus far and the constitutional amendments will undoubtedly be ratified. Brownson greatly dislikes the financial and tariff policy of congress and its dealings with the army but wishes it to be sustained supreme and the government to grow into an erective monarchy. It is doubtful whether the President has done anything for which he could be impeached and it is just as doubtful that Congress would support such a move. Butler's Cincinnati speech will do him no credit. He shows too plainly his spite against Grant and the Army and cannot damage Grant in the country at large. His own military record is not half enough for that and neither the regular army not the Boys in Blue will take him as a representative military man. Grant's popularity overshadows Butler's administrative and oratorical abilities. Brownson thinks that the Army will be sustained and placed on a popular footing as soon as reconstruction takes place and the union fairly restored. The President's Andrew Johnson pilgrimage to the tomb of Douglas has hurt him and Raymond has returned to the ranks of the Republicans. Henceforth men who love their country will oppose all duties on imports except for revenue purpose, seek to modify the national bank system and to convince the people to rely on a regular army rather than a volunteer militia. Brownson would have the regular army increased to a hundred anf fifty thousand men, containing the cadre for three hundred thousand. He doubts the withdrawal of French troops from Mexico and considers the key to the recent events to be Napoleon's desire to prevent the union of Germany and Austria with her non-Germanic provinces and to prepare alliances which will prevent Russia's advance southwards as well as to settle the Eastern question and sustain the Turks to allay the fears of Great Britain for the Indian Empire. Perhaps the Emperor also wishes to guard against the influences on Europe of the great and growing American Republic. Thus far his policy has been successful but his spinal affliction and kidney disease may prevent the health and peace he needs to consolidate it. Brownson's article on Imperial Policy had been written for the Catholic World before Lavallette's Imperial Circular appeared in this country and is significant inasmuch as it proves that Brownson had correctly sized up the Imperial Policy. Henry is cautioned not to believe that Napoleon has been defeated or disappointed but has intentionally abandoned Henry IV's policy of suffering no great power on the frontiers of France. Fathers Howell and David will soon be leaving and as yet the Bishop has made no appointments while they are still in the parish. Brownson expects the Council to come out strongly for the Temporal Sovereignty now that it is lost. He does not think that the Holy Father is in any danger of being disturbed and presumes matters will go on the same until the present Pope dies and a new one is elected. The matter will then be settled amicably but not so advantageously as it might have been in 1860. The press is certain that Maximilian will abdicate but Brownson looks for him to maintain himself on the Mexican throne, a wise move in case he is abandoned by France. The Liberals are fighting each other in Mexico but Maximilian seems to have the strongest party and the majority of the people. He holds the smallest but most thickly populated Mexican territories. Genianism is on the way and Brownson hopes that the nigger question will soon be settled. :: III-3-a A.L.S. 4pp. 8vo.