Transcribe Ward, Henry A. Letter to Orton, James (1856-01-10)

at Mr. Green's was limited to $150. the price of a first class passage to Rochester! The sole reason for my being here at all still exists, for Charlie will probably remain here another year at least. Mr. W. finds us both a great expense to him. He writes to Charlie that he has just returned from a most expensive tour with his family in Europe & is to spend the winter with them in N. Y. city. while on the other hand his crops have brought him but 1/2 the usual returns this fall, & that therefore he (Charlie) & Ward must draw on him for the least ammount possible. I felt sorry when I heard this that I was here adding in the least to his expenses, for he has been very kind to me, and I felt greatly disappointed, for it seemed to place an insurmountably obstacle in the way of your applying to him as we had pro- posed. I have thought a good deal upon this in connection with your last letter & give you this as the result. By postponing for a few months your application to Mr. W. you will probably make it with at least your former prospect of success, which as I have already said is I think very promising. But if it be the case, as you say, that you must come now or never, apply to him at once by all means on the principle that there is nothing risked where there is nothing to be lost. I am sometimes so egoistic as to think (permit me to say that it results from thinking how much I should like to aid you if here) that if you do not come while I am here, that you should not come at all. Your best manner by far of applying to Mr. W. would be by means of the letters of introduction from Mr. Hunt (the best one) & Pres. Hopkins, as you mention. Should you