"Ungrateful Female, After all my trials and tribulations, and
fault-findings at your course, you now purpose to swap me off. Well,
I will free my mind, if I die for it. My opinion is, that neither Mr.
Woodlee, nor principalities, nor powers, nor any other creature, can
do so much for you in your trial as I can. I believe Mr. Woodlee is a
few years younger than I and so has a greater chance to live to the end
of it _cœteris paribus_, but _cœteris_ are _not_ _paribus_, because he
lives away from the scene, and there never could be a conjunction of
Hampden, Woodlee, Russell, etc. If I were to fly up and say I would
have nothing more to do with your case, because you won't follow
my advice, there would be reason in it, but for you to take a new
adviser--Why you don't know how much Mr. Woodlee must go through to be
as familiar with the matter as I am, and don't you see that you must
not tax these far-off friends in this way? I, who am your real friend,
you may do anything with, but Mr. Woodlee and Mr. Russell never will
leave all and follow you to Athens and spend days on this trial....
"Do not be foolish unless it is really necessary. I want to make H.,
P., & Co. do right, and I want to do all for you that is possible. As
the matter must be heard at Athens, I am the person to do it with least
trouble. Your letter found me at Marathon yesterday. I shall be home
next week, and your papers shall be sent. In the mean time the Lord
restore you to reason. Swap me off indeed! Your _only_ friend!"