-To ? from J Hamilton (Stephens)-February 1, 1865

1 Feb. 1865, Dublin. 'My dear nephew. Your note of the i5th ult. came to hand on last Monday. I hope it may keep us alive till the receipt of the "solid epistle" promised. It has given cheer to men who needed it sorely. Still it is not certain that we can exist on it even till the time you say. At this moment our existence depends on the forbearance and goodwill of a single creditor—a stranger to me. He has a bill of ours but this won't fall due for several weeks. He has been given the word of honor of one of my friends that an additional debt, per account, would be paid to him on Saturday in cash. My friend had been counting on you, and having been disappointed he cannot possibly keep his word. The promised succour cannot reach us before Monday or Teusday [sic] at soonest. Should the creditor refuse to extend the time of payment till then, I do not see how ruin is to be averted; because the same creditor would then refuse to supply what we cannot possibly do without. Suppose we get him to consent to this short delay—it would be useless to seek a longer one—and that you again disappoint, all is at an end. I mentioned something tantamount to this in my last letter. I think my then calculations are turning out correct to the very day. Yes, if you delay for a week after the Convention [in Cincinnati, January 1865] you will be too late. So that, after all, M. Scanlan's

action was neither "premature nor uncalled for." Still, I don't approve of it. John [John O'Mahony] should have been consulted. My heart is sick almost to death and my brain is on fire while I write. If the Heavens opened visibly before me it could give me no more awful sence [sic] of life and life's responsibilities. This pitiful weakness in our irresistible strength—this infernal cancre [sic] in the mighty tree so rich in leaf and blossom—tries me to the utmost stretch of endurance. Only think of it : a house that can show assets for over ^90,000 to be on the point of bankruptcy for want of a most beggarly sum. Yours unalterably.'

Endorsed: Doc. "B 3." C.E. Feb. i 1865, No. 3.