Mr. Thomas, in response to a letter from her asking advice with regard to the business affairs of the magazine, replies:-- “Make your terms cash. You will do well to keep constantly in remembrance that your prosperity almost entirely depends on your individual exertions. Puffing, advertising, scolding, will do little or nothing. _Male_ agents will do little or nothing; but if you go as females, with suitable brief papers signed by _eminent men_, to show that you are not impostors, you will do well.... Be careful to guard against the possibility of suspicion. This you can readily accomplish by certificates from Saml. Lawrence, John Clark, and a few other Lowellites, countersigned (if convenient) by the governor, Daniel Webster, etc.” In her valedictory at the close of Volume V., Miss Curtis announces that she severs her connection with _The Offering_ for reasons “entirely of a personal nature,” and as a parting benison adds: “Friends, Patrons, and Foes (if we have any), may God bless you all with every perfect gift!” Although her connection with _The Offering_ was severed at this date, Miss Curtis remained in Lowell until called away by the illness of her mother. She continued her literary labors for a time, and was a correspondent of several newspapers. Harriot was the friend and correspondent of such men as John Neal, Horace Greeley, Nathaniel P. Willis, and others well known in literary and public life. She had a taste for politics and wrote intelligently on questions that women were not supposed to understand. She contributed to the _New York Tribune_ articles so clear and so caustic, that readers who did not share the common delusion that “H. G.” wrote everything in Horace Greeley’s paper, thought they must have been written by a _man_! She was the friend and correspondent of “Warrington” (William S. Robinson), and when he was editor of the _Boston Daily Republican_, she made a prediction worthy of a male political prophet. In a letter dated May 4, 1848, she writes:-- _Friend R._,--Probably no doubt exists but _some_ self-sacrificing patriot may be found to accept the office of Chief Magistrate.... But who shall be the Whig candidate for this self-sacrifice, seems the most prominent question. A few days since I met Horace Greeley, and, as in duty bound, pronounced to him my _prophecy_ of who _could not_ be a successful candidate, although, out of the numerous aspirants for the Whig nomination, I could not prophecy who would be successful.... Will you give the public my assurance that _Henry Clay cannot be President of the United States_. I don’t care who the Democratic nominee may be; I don’t care how divided that party may be in action, nor how great may be the unanimity and enthusiasm of the Whigs; but I repeat, Henry Clay cannot be President....