Brownson has received Henry's letter of the 21st and 22nd and was surprised that the Appleton's had made other arrangements before receiving his letter which had been mailed the same day. Judge William Fenny spoke to him. Henry is not going to Fort Brady and evidently General Ruggles telling General Harding to send another Company was an order. Brownson prefers that Henry remain in Detroit even though it would be more pleasant to command a post. Henry has learned to obey now and that is the best preparation to command. The Sault Ste Marie is at present out of the world, though less so than a few years ago. The good Bishop Frederick Baraga is there, a Swiss or Alsation German and a holy man, but with the terrible smell of the Indian. Henry liked Brownson's Old Quarrel Article and the latter thought it would help clarify Henry's views. The original point is the exposition he gives of what the peripatetics meant by their phantasma and intelligible species. He had hinted at it before in his Review but had never fully developed it. Brownson believes that he has defended the Scholastic philosophy and has shown the ground of reconciliation between it and his own or Gioberti's. Gioberti is less original than Brownson once supposed and while he does not reject anything he took from him, nevertheless, Brownson does not rate him as high as he once did. At one time he mastered Brownson, but the reverse is now the case. Brownson hopes that he has smoothed out the way for Henry and insists that Henry must carry on what his father has begun. The next article by Brownson in the Catholic World is on Cousin and will appear in June. Cousin also once mastered him but again the reverse is true. Brownson claims that he never masters anyone until he has made himself a disciple of the man and allows himself to be mastered first. It is on the principle —credo ut intelligam—we understand by our sympathy with the author and by allowing ourselves to be carried away by him, and then criticize him as we would ourselves. However, an open mind and heart must prevail. This has been Brownson's method of study throughout life. The drawback in his case has been that the circumstances in his life have compelled him to write and publish while the process was going on and before he had time to complete it-thus the charge of fickleness and frequent changes of opinion. The world will never know, according to Brownson, the steadiness with which he has always adhered to his principles and the generous sympathy with which he has studied. The loving heart is the true auxiliary of the comprehensive mind- the truth Plato had in mind when he made love and intelligence the two wings of the Soul on which it soars to the Empyrean. Henry is told that he, too, will soar much higher when he finds fuller scope for the strong and generous affections which are implanted in his nature and which have never yet had fair play. Brownson is not sorry that Henry has left off whiskey and if he persevores his life will be far happier and more useful. In addition his example will have an excellent effect in the army and on Henry's position in it. If matters should not turn out for Henry as he expects it is possible that he will be all the better for it. His life has been solitary and marked by many disappointments along with much internal suffering. Henry has the real Brownson nature and while he is a strong man he needs to love and be loved. That portion of his nature which his early aspirations led him to suppress or turn into unnatural channels needs to be developed to make him a complete and rounded man. It is better to run the risk of poverty, nay, even a domestic jar, than to live as he has done. Brownson trusts Henry's judgement and would welcome with all his heart the woman Henry chooses. Sir John Acton and his associates in the Home and Foreign Review have started their new weekly journal, The Chronicle. Brownson does not think much of it and has not yet made up his mind whether he will write for it or not. He was asked to write six articles a year for 13 pounds an article but finds his writing for the Catholic World all that he can handle. Father Issac T. Hecker no longer appears to be doing Brownson a favor by accepting the latter's articles, but appears to understand that the obligation is on the other side. Sarah Brownson has been ill for some weeks but Henry's mother is better and sends her love. Brownson's garden has been planted, his health is very good and he is suffering little now from the gout. His lameness is due chiefly to the nail on his gouty toe. :: III-3-a A.L.S. 4pp. 8vo.