_My Dear Sir_,--I owe you a very humble apology for not answering sooner your flattering epistle of the -- ult. The truth is, being from home when your letter reached my residence, my reply fell into the ever open grave of deferred duties. As regards the information you desire I regret that it is out of my power to aid you. My studies and pursuits {208} have been directed, of late years, in so very different a channel, that I am by no means _au fait_ on the particular subject you mention. Believe me, with earnest wishes for your success, Very respectfully yours, [Illustration: CM Sedgwick] JOSEPH F. MILLER, ESQ. The penmanship of Miss Sedgwick is excellent. The characters are well-sized, distinct, elegantly, but not ostentatiously formed; and, with perfect freedom of manner, are still sufficiently feminine. The hair strokes of the pen differ little in thickness from the other parts of the MS.--which has thus a uniform appearance it might not otherwise have. Strong common sense, and a scorn of superfluous ornament, one might suppose, from Miss Sedgwick's hand writing, to be the characteristics of her literary style. The paper is very good, blue in tint, and ruled by machine. The seal of red wax, plain. LETTER VII. _New York_, ----. _Dear Sir_,--I have received your favor of the ----. The report to which it alludes was entirely without foundation. I have never had, and have not _now_, any intention of editing a Magazine. The Bookseller's statement on this subject originated in a misunderstanding. Your Poem on "Things in General," I have not had the pleasure of seeing. I have not, however, the least doubt of its--of its--that is to say, of its extreme delicacy of sentiment, and highly original style of thinking--to say nothing at present of that--of that extraordinary and felicitous manner of expression which so particularly characterizes all that--that I have seen of your writings. I shall endeavor, sir, to procure your Poem, and anticipate much pleasure in its perusal. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Illustration: Fitz-Greene Halleck] JOSEPH G. MILLER, ESQ. Mr. Halleck's is a free, mercantile hand, and evinces a love for the graceful rather than for the picturesque. There is some _force_, too, in its expression. The _tout ensemble_ is pleasing. Mr. H.'s letter is probably written _currente calamo_--but without hurry. The paper is very good, and bluish--the seal of red wax. LETTER VIII. _Alexandria, Red River_, ----, _Louisiana_. _Dear Sir_,--Your polite letter of the -- is before me, and the view which you present of the estimation in which you hold my poor labors is every way gratifying. It would afford me great pleasure to send you a few trifles for the Hum-drum, which I have no doubt will prove a very useful periodical if its design is well carried out--but the truth is my time is entirely occupied. Yours, [Illustration: Timothy Flint] JOSEPH H. MILLER, ESQ.