Dear Mac,

Returning last Saturday week (18th) from my ten day vacation I found your favor of the 13th awaiting me, and was pleased to find that you had not forgotten me I was also glad to learn that you were beginning to feel better, but had hoped that your recovery of your usual good health would be rapid enough to permit your return here sooner than you lead me to anticipate, as you speak of going hunting in October. In any case I hope you will have a good time (as you cant [sic] fail of doing) and come back before long thoroughly rejuvenated and "as good as new."¹

I had a pleasant little trip, stopping two days at Hammondsport (Galway going with me so far) then visiting at Scottsville where the country looked beautifully and the crops had been extraordinarily good, and finally spending two days at Saratoga--The hotels there being just then full and flourishing though the season had previously been rather dull and unprofitable. [Hen. Janvin?] was not very well being badly stiffened with muscular rheumatism. I did not see Ms. J. as she had "gone to bed" both evenings.

I don't think of any news to give you. Dr. [Janvin?] has not been away much and has been very busy this summer, though I have not met him. The weather has lately been pretty warm here, though on the whole the summer has been comfortable. The greatest improvement here has been the opening of a fine large hotel at the further extreme of Coney Island called Manhattan Beach which has made a favourite excursion and has been thronged by nice people. I have been down a number of times and wished you were here to go with me.

Everything goes on much as usual as the Dispensary. Dacken has kept pretty well.

I shall be very glad to hear from you again if you have a few minutes to give me and shall be still more glad to see you back here.

Yours Truly,

C.E. Billington

¹ Dr. Calvin Brooks McQuesten had apparently developed pneumonia in 1875, but was still struggling with it in 1877. In May, 1877, Isaac and Mary had invited Calvin to visit them to recover. It appears that he spent much of the summer with them, and may have stayed until November that same year (W2485, W2489, W1498).