Albany Oct 4 ^th
My dear Mother,
It is just a year
since I went into Barnes , fully inten
–ding at the time to remain there at
least a year or more, I have been (this
morning thinking to my self) and comparing
the past five month which I have
spent in business here, to those which I
were with Barnes, and I must say this
that the balance is greatly in favor of
my present place as far a business is
concerned – but as for every thing else
there is no place like home although
that is a thing which I could hardly
expect. I am still very well
pleased with my boarding place
and the more I see the better I

like it. We (that is W m
Henry , Henry Cole & myself)
have very nice rooms and try
to make our t selves as comfortable
and possible.
What has become of
father has returned from the west
or has gone again?
I received the Patent
Reports' for which I am very much
obliged I wanted them for a friend
of mine here.
Love to Aunty Fanny &
all the rest, Fred &Anna are
quite well
Your affectionate son
Will
Will please look in the stand drawer
of my ^room^ and get a pair of Razors who
are in a leather case they have white
handles, I should like have you
send them with my "Furs" by some

person who is coming down

h William Oct 4
1857