Lawrence Nov 21st 1856 Dear Parents

I recd a long letter from Father by the last mail enclosing a draft for 25.00 from Lee Claflin. I wrote a few days since and intended to have written a long letter by this time but don’t know as I shall make out this time. I went to one of the stores here today and they agreed to pay the draft so I shall get the money, probably today or tomorrow. Appleton wrote to me that I might draw on him for 25 which I shall probably do. The 20.00 which you said was sent to me from Framingham has not arrived and perhaps will not but I hope it will. The present draft, or the cash that I can get for it, I can find good use for very quick. Some of it ought to stick to my own fingers but whether that would exactly meet the wishes of the donor I dont know, but I know of families that will help to flour and sugar and such things and families that stand in need of such things too. I will try and make it tell & do some good and shall be glad to receive more from the same source.

I have not seen Mr Nute and do not know exactly how we shall manage that that was sent to us but think that if you had sent it to me alone it would have been better as Mr Nute, being a Unitarian is a little more apt to look for that kind of men to help. At least so I have heard and I only say it as a report.

Three of the bbls of things sent by you have arrived and I have distributed quite a number of things for which I have recd many thanks and for which I in my turn thank the givers. The pants sent by Mrs Davenport are a little too long for me but can easily be fixed. They are very nice and I am very thankful for them. The coat I have not found. It must be in the other bbl which I have not yet opened (nor seen No 4).

Gov Geary appointed yester[day] the 20th as a day of Thanksgiving and the ladies of Lawrence got up a dinner to which they invited him, the proceeds of which were to be used to give a dinner to the Free State Prisoners at Lecompton. The dinner took place yesterday about 5 P.M. Gov. Robinson was here but Geary was not. The reason for his not being here we understand this morning was that he was arrested by order of Judge Lecompton while on his way home. The is said to be a fact but of its truth I am not certain.

The Dinner was quite a good affair, about 100 sat down to the tables. A blessing was asked by Rev G.W. Hutchinson after which all ate a genteel sufficiency of roast Turkey, baked pig, Chicken pie & such like fixings. We then adjourned to the hall where we had speeches & toasts and a good time generally until between nine & ten when the floor was given up to those who wished to dance, while the sober staid portion of us went home. I went to the dinner almost solely on account of introducing Wheeler into our society here and I staid for a while after dancing commenced to look on. This occasion was a very pleasant one. The speakers or at least those who spoke on politics Gov. R., Lieut Gov. Roberts and others, seem to be very hopeful for the future of Kansas and say we are bound to have a Free State any how and if we cant have it with Buch[anan] & Breck[inridge] we will have it in spite of Buch, Breck, & Geary, too. They say, and I hope, it is true that there will be such an Emigration in the Spring as has not been seen for a long time from the Free States. That and nothing else will be our Salvation now. We feel sorry of course that we, or rather you, did not elect Fremont but as it cant be helped now we’ll make the best of it. Free Kansas we must & will have.

My List of Letters is not where I now am and so I cannot number this and I did not number the last I wrote. Yours was not numbered but I shall keep account of this and number the rest just as though these had been numbered. I saw Dr Hunting a day or two since; he says that no Revolver had ever got to him and he has made inquiry around there at the P.O. and stores but has heard nothing of it. He does not know Mr Parsons personally but says he supposes he is near Fort Riley. I am going to write to him about it and have the Dr carry it up with him. He wished to be remembered to you. I wish that I could come home this winter and it is not utterly impossible but I may yet, but very improbable according to present appearances. How did it happen that 50.00 was sent to Wheeler. If it is for him, I am in much more need than he is. He has made money at least part of the time he was been West while I have not but lost all. I have never found out yet whether you had that draft of 50.00 that I gave Wood. Are you all well at home. How is George & what is he doing? Where is his mother? I found his name and town in his shoes all right. Give my love to him. Ask him if he has forgotten me. Most of the Free State men that I have talked with since the result of the Election became known with certainty seemed to think that we must stick it out and make a Free State. Some are disheartened but most are hopeful.

Your Aff Son Edward

[ ] I have no more time to write but must close in order to have this go in the next mail.
Yours, E.