I have had the unspeakable joy of hearing my composition read in school this morning. It being among the first that had been read since I have been here you will doubtless think I was all tiptoe about it. Every thing here is founded on system and as fix’d as the laws of the Medes and Persians. We must get to bed at such a time and get up at such a time; and am accountable to my Instructors for almost every moment. I am very sorry that you should reflect upon yourself at all about my journey; for I think it was good for me to have affliction on my journey: and I don’t know but it is one means of making me more contented here. I hadn’t the least idea of being so entirely free from homesickness as I am now. Litchfield is really a pleasant place and contains some very pleasant inhabitants and some unpleasant ones: but of the latter class I know but a little. There are students from the southward boarding next door from this studying law. Two of them went into New York state last week to fight a duel. The offence was but a trifle. I shall not complain again that I am too old to go to school; for one of our boarders is said to be twenty eight years old and besides that, which might be discouraging to a person in any Study; she has just commenced the study of English Grammar; I make out much better with study than I expected too when I came from home. Respecting Illinois are you getting ready to go? I’ll endeavour to be ready when you call for me: but I should like to visit poor despised Groton once more. I have not become so cultivated yet but that I could endure the sight of the Thames and its inhabitants. Mr. Beecher went fishing the other day in a pond and caught a noble parcel. They looked so much like home that I felt inclined to scrape acquaintance. I have lobsters or shad once a week. You never need be put to it for matter to write to one for the most minute circumstances would be interesting to me. Every Wednesday afternoon we have lectures in Philosophy. If I had a shirt here to make for you, I would make it while I am hearing these lectures. They are very interesting. My time is wholly taken up. I have to keep a journal and write compositions which with other studies occupy all the time of a moderate genius. Thursdays we have a rare fuss parsing. It takes us more than three hours to parse five lines in common composition. For one word we have to recite from the beginning to the end of Grammar. I have begun to write a letter to Misses ——. intended to have sent it this week but felt rather I must write home. If their friendship has not quite fail’d I shall have a letter next week. I shall write to Norman with them. You said before we parted that possibly Henrietta might come; but I don’t see any thing of her. Give my respects to May. B’s family and to Mrs. Bailey. I have to write a dissertation next week on the advantages of commerce.