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Scope and Contents Advice to the brother in school; plans to leave there at the end of April, arriving in the U.S. in June.

Scope and Contents His traveling companions, John Ambler, Seybert and Chauncey; his study of the Chirk and Pontcysyllte aqueducts; he is entertained by Lord and Lady Dungannon at tea after meeting the Lord on his estate, and shown through the colleges of Oxford by a young Oxonian that he met in the Bodlean Library; he comments on the great wealth in England and the many world schemes put into operation by English capital.

Scope and Contents Moncure Robinson writes, "in practical mechanics the French must be at least one hundred years behind the English.. Here I can travel in no direction but I come across some fine specimens of art executed in this land of dull and plodding people." He goes on to describe the technical wonders of the "New London Bridge" and the Thames Tunnel, including the method of digging under the Thames River; he plans to study the canals and railroads of England and Holland before returning for the lectures on mathematics and algebra at the Sorbonne.

Scope and Contents His plans to go to Sulphur Springs for his health, then on a trip with their sister, Jane; recommending the purchase of stock in the James River Scheme; of their sister, Octavia.

Scope and Contents Concerning the meeting with his future wife, Charlotte Taylor.

Scope and Contents Mail contract and Bd. of Public Works; competition with the Central R.R. from Washington; negotiations with Dove of the Philadelphia and Baltimore R.R.; difficult relations with Peter Daniel, President of the R.F. & P. R.R.,and "his board"; number of accidents suggests that trains are running faster than they should.

Scope and Contents Attempts to bring down the price of Fontaine's stocks; regrets at the dismissal of an employer by Edwin Robinson; threatened resignation of Captain McCausland of the Piney Point Line; opposition to "the Alexandria Bill" in Washginton.

Scope and Contents Mail contracts; influence with Board of Public Works directors and stockholders meetings; conflict with Rives; R.R. and steamboat line finances; newspaper schedule advertisements of connecting trains.

Scope and Contents Richmond & Petersburg R.R. in relation to the R.F. & P. R.R.; more trouble with Falls in connection with Seaboard and Bay stock; stock purchases by Prof. Tucker and Mr. Haxall; mail contracts; telegraph line; through tickets; John at Cambridge (Harvard University).

Scope and Contents Recommends that a son of a friend be sent to "West Point of some other first rate scientific institution;" he is willing to take charge of the building of the Petersburg railway in Virginia, while still keeping his positions in Pennsylvania.