My dear Mr. McQuesten,

On my return to Pittsburgh from my brother Harris' funeral at Hamilton I found your letter of the 10^th inst., but have been so submerged with my work that I have been unable to write you. I need not apologize for this, for from your letter I see that you know what that means. It has been very gratifying to us to hear from the old friends who knew Harris and saw him as he was, and we have all appreciated your words of sympathy very much indeed. Of course, the blotting out of an association such as existed between Harris and my self is a very serious matter to any man, but I fancy the best that comes to us in our lives comes by the way of sorrow.

It was a pleasure to me to meet your mother at Hamilton; she was kind enough to come up to the mountain in the morning before the services and we all appreciated her doing so very much indeed. With kindest regards.

Yours very truly,

James Isaac Buchanan