It was not very long after the publication of these Memoirs, that we learned, in a conversation with a highly distinguished member of the profession, that he had been led to entertain the impression to which we have alluded. Here we had, of course, an opportunity of correcting the error; but it obviously became a subject of very serious consideration, what must be done in dealing with this matter, and other matters arising out of it, in a subsequent edition. To treat the affair seriously, would have involved a reference to documents in our possession which, though highly honorable to Mr. Abernethy, would have been of no general interest, whilst they would have involved details disagreeable to several persons. We therefore, after much consideration, resolved on endeavouring to see whether it was not possible to quash a tedious and painful discussion, and at the same time to obtain, of course, all that was necessary to the memory of Mr. Abernethy. The following letter, and the reply, will, we think, sufficiently develop the very difficult and disagreeable position in which we were placed; our sole object being, so far as it was possible, to avoid repeating or enlarging a discussion which we had learned would have given pain to certain parties. The concluding paragraph has been omitted, as being unnecessary to the point more immediately under discussion. "3, The Court Yard, Albany, "July 17th, 1856. "Sir, "For reasons which may be gathered from this note, I think it proper to inform you that I am preparing another edition of the Memoirs of Abernethy. Impressions have been conveyed to certain persons, that the reasons on which you grounded your disinclination to make any communication in relation to your differences with Abernethy, were the desire you professed to withhold something which involved imputations unfavourable to him. Further, a sort of Body has been given to these vague impressions by inferences which the documentary and other evidence at my disposal enable me to disprove. In one quarter, the circumstances are so strongly suggestive as to the sources whence the erroneous impressions were derived, that it is impossible to leave that portion of the Memoirs which treats of your differences with Abernethy as it at present stands, without the risk of injustice. It is regarded as necessary that you should either recognize or ignore the inferences which (whether correctly or not I will not presume in this place to determine) have certainly been formed on your supposed authority. The justice of such a course is sufficiently obvious. I need scarcely say, it is immaterial to me what course is taken. If I am obliged to enter into the discussion of the subject, I shall take the opportunity of defending myself from the remarks that have been made upon me, and of showing what I did say, as well as what I might have said.