"LINDENWALD, _October 18th, '48_.
"MY DEAR SIR,--As you are the man of business, if not the only one in
our ranks, you must not complain of the trouble I am about to give you.
The enclosed has embarrassed me not a little. Having been pleased with
the writer's very successful reply to Mr. Gerrit Smith, which I think
we read together, I feel loath to slight him altogether, and yet I can
neither do what he suggests without falsifying my position or open a
correspondence with him without exposing the act to perversion. I wish,
therefore, you would take the trouble to send for him and explain to
him my situation upon the said point.
In haste, very truly yours,
"M. VAN BUREN."