Charlie & I spent [a] good part of the day, yesterday, over that curious Fredonia muddle; & now I think I understand his side of it. I had your mother’s side of it months ago when you she was in Hartford. Now I would like to have your version. & have had I was going to ask you to come up here; but your aunt Livy dissents because we have no spare bed & she says it would be much too hard a journey for you to go on to Fredonia or back to New York without good rest & sleep between.

Therefore, write the matter to me. one or two words canceled Some of the questions are these:

1. Did Pamela know that half your house was to be deeded to Charley? —& was she unwilling?

2. If so, whasⒶemendation she unwilling?

3. If the deeding was for a purpose; & if that purpose has been served, why isn’t that half restored to you? ⟦Has this been suggested to Charley? Has he objected? If so, th Ⓐemendation upon what ground?⟧

(All the above matters have been talked over yesterday & with Pamela.) They are of little or no importance, one way or another; yet they are a part of the muddle.)

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Dunkirk Land.

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1. What led to Charley’s taking a deed of it?

2. What did he agree to do with the land?

3. What was his remuneration to be?

4. Did he fulfill his contract?

5. If so, did it make your w mother whole on her original investment?

6. How much actual cash has she received?

7. How much has Charley received?

8. Did Charley throw up a salaried situation in order to devote his undivided time [to] the Dunkirk business?

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The will, etc, etc.

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1. Did Charley pester & pursue Pamela about her will? & use loud & violent language to you & to her? (not about the will, but other things) & tear up a legal document, in a rage, which was yours or Pamela’s, & not his? & did he plague her to sign documents which would have left her defenceless—& which Mr. Johnson forbade her to sign—& did he Charley fall into a passion because she would not sign?

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Did Pamela give you a lot of her silver ware & afterwards ask you to return it?

Did she give you a sewing machine & afterwards give it to somebody else?

Ma is out of all this thing, because she is not responsible, henr mind being so impaired; but is Pamela’s mind impaired, too? Have you reason to think it is affected?

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I have numbered my paragraphs, to save you trouble, Annie. Turn these pages over & write the answer of each paragraph on its back, & return me this letter.

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A◊dd any history that occurs to you, of this painful & fantastic business.

If you can’t manage this extensive matter with the pen, to your satisfaction, come up here & have a talk. But I think it will do if you write brief answers to these questions & leave the rest till we pass through New York. We will have a talk then.

Your aunt Livy & the children are well, & we all send love.

Of course my impulse is to cast this whole muddle out of my mind & busy myself with my work; but justice to Charley will not permit that. Maybe we can manage your part of it by letter; let us try; & later finish it up by word of mouth.