Your letter did not reach me till some time after its date & I was then in London considerably occupied by many things which hardly left one time to reply to it properly, & beside this, as neither my husband nor myself had any available manuscripts with us, I could not make an answer to you from that plan as useful to you as I hoped to do when I returned You were quite eight about my having requested the two little poems from your hands -- I hoped at that time ? to improve them or to substitute something much better. & on looking ? ? our they seem of so indifferent a stamp that my authorly feeling of self-regard outweighs my goal to publicly come forward even in so good & noble a work as the one you advocate with nothing better than the two poor poems I esteem? you, not? in truth for their value but because they are your property & not mine.

You are also perhaps aware that the incident of the one entitled "The Negro Mother" has since mine was written, been made use of by "Charlotte Elizabeth" so that the originality of its character is gone -- & indeed if I might advise you I would recommend [?] of those I send being used for I doubt extremely their ability to do more than fill a certain number of pages.

Had my husband had any idea of you continuing your intention of publishing your little volume he would not have printed the poem you speak of. He would be most happy to aid you in your good undertaking & so should I most sincerely had we any thing by us which we could offer -- or had we ⟨were there now⟩ time before they were wanted -- but our absence from home & several things which made an imperative demand both on time & attention him out return have rendered it impossible. I however copy two stanzas on the other side rather? to show his good will than in any hope that they will be thought suitable seeing the work is edited by a lady.

I hope it is needless to say how sincere a sympathy both my husband & myself felt in the head ⟨sorrow⟩ which removed you from Nottingham but time & religion dear friend "being such wondrous easing" that this is among the many mercies [?][?] every tired Christian has to be thankful for. I have often enquired after your little daughter & have been glad to hear that she is such a one as to make a mother's heart rejoice.