The subject of your letter of May 20. has attracted more notice certainly than it merited. that the opern to which it refers, was painful to a certain degree I admit, but it was shor-tlived, and there would have ended as to myself. my age and the state of my health at that time gave an alarm to my family which I neither felt nor expressed. what may have been said in newspapers I know not, reading only a single one and that giving little room to things of that kind. I thought no more of it until your letter brot it again to mind but can assure you it has left not a trace of dissatisfaction as to yourself and that with me it is placed among the things which have never happened. Accept this assurance with my friendly salutns

Th:J.