_Sunderland, Oct. 28, 1865._
DR. POMEROY, DEAR SIR: I am sorry to say that my dear father feels
too weak to reply to your kind and affectionate letter of the
twenty-third instant, and therefore I cheerfully consent to reply to
it myself.
As to the subject of your letter, it is as you intimated. We have
every reason to believe that father's defence of me, has been the
indirect cause of Mr. Packard's leaving Sunderland; although we knew
nothing of the matter until he left, and a candidate filled his
place. Neither father, mother, nor I, have used any direct influence
to undermine the confidence of this people in Mr. Packard. But where
this simple fact, that I have been imprisoned three years, is known,
to have become a demonstrated truth, by the decision of a jury, after
a thorough legal investigation of five day's trial, it is found to be
rather of an unfortunate truth for the public sentiment of the
present age to grapple with. And Mr. Packard and his persecuting
party may yet find I uttered no fictitious sentiment, when I remarked
to Dr. McFarland in the Asylum, that I shall yet _live down_ this
slander of Insanity, and also live down my persecutors. And Mr.
Packard is affording me every facility for so doing, by his
continuing strenuously to insist upon it, that I am, now, just as
insane as when he incarcerated me in Jacksonville Insane Asylum. And
he still insists upon it, that an Asylum Prison is the only suitable
place for me to spend the residue of my earth-life in. But,
fortunately for me, my friends judge differently upon seeing me for
themselves. Especially fortunate is it for me, that my own dear
father feels confident that his house is a more suitable home for me,
notwithstanding the assertion of Mrs. Dickinson, (the widow with whom
Mr. Packard boards,) that, "it is such a pity that Mrs. Packard
should come to Sunderland, where Mr. Packard preaches!" Mr. Johnson
replied in answer to this remark, that he thought Mrs. Packard had a
right to come to her father's house for protection, and also that her
father had an equal right to extend protection to his only daughter,
when thrown adrift and pennyless upon the cold world without a place
to shelter her defenceless head.
Mr. Packard has withdrawn all intercourse with us all since he was
called upon by father to return my wardrobe to me. Would that Mr.
Packard's eyes might be opened to see what he is doing, and repent,
so that I might be allowed to extend to him the forgiveness my heart
longs to bestow, upon this gospel condition.
Thankful for all the kindness and sympathy you have bestowed upon my
father and mother, as well as myself, I subscribe myself your true
friend,