Handwritten letter from William Henry Benade in Allegheny City, PA to John Pitcairn, Jr. Benade has received Pitcairn’s letter of June 8th. He hears Pitcairn and Childs have arrived in Paris and are now being “initiated into the mysteries of the French tongue.” He is not surprised that they were unsuccessful in converting the Bishop, though he is surprised the Bishop didn’t carry them all the way to Rome. Benade discusses the curious “consular experience” they had with the man Smith- he suspects Smith will end up in either a madhouse or a monkery, as people of the Old Church “are left without any restraint or guard in consequence of their infidelity in respect to the Word.” He notes that M.Z.’s promised taste of Cognac has not come, and he wonders if M.Z. has consumed it all, or been consumed by it. He thinks it was a good idea to postpone their trip to Rome- he hears it has been very hot there. He has no hope of being able to join them on their trip, and does not even expect to be able to take his usual summer trip, which was to include the Conference meeting in Bath, Me. He hopes they will meet Mr. Tafel in either Germany or Switzerland where he will be after the Conference meeting in August. Pitcairn and Childs may also see Chandler and his wife, who sail out from Quebec on the 25th. Benade imagines this group (Pitcairn, Childs, Tafel, and the Chandlers) traveling together in a “Lucretian Caravan,” each of them taking on a different role. He writes, “M. Z. need not turn up his nasal prominence at my Barmecide feast”- he will have all the imaginary fun without having to deal with the annoyances of filth, vermin, heat, dust, etc. He updates Pitcairn on society matters, which have been progressing “quietly & very soberly.” Maggie repented, Temie (?) brought his lady to be baptized, and Albert came to Church with his mother. He adds, “The son & heir of the house of Ballou is progressing favorably. On the 4th he met me – waving the flag of this country- & crowing Yankee Doodle.” He wonders if they have met Mr. Iungerich, or anyone from the Hannan (?) family to marry. He inquires after Mrs. Bliss and sends her his kindest regards. Names mentioned: The Bishop (Bishop Joseph Dwenger), Smith, Oliphant, “M. Z” (Methustikos Zephuros- Walter C. Childs), Prof. Tafel (Rudolph L. Tafel), Conference, Chandler (Horace Parker Chandler?), Hod, Maggie (Margaret Pitcairn?), Temie (or Jemie?), Albert, Frank Ballou, Mr. Iungerich, Family of Hannan (Haunan?), Mrs. Bliss Places mentioned: Paris, Rome, Bath Maine, Germany, Switzerland, Quebec, Desert of (Roman?) Antiquities, Italy