Benner, Dolgelley
August 20/63

    My dear Nicholson,

        I dare say you duly received a copy of my Iguvine Inscriptions which I directed to be sent to you. For the first time in my life I have published with the secret hope of what some call "fame," i.e. with the desire of gaining "credit," because such "credit" is of first importance to aid me in pushing on my schemes in regard to modern Arabic literature in European type. . . . To put forward an Easy Instructor in modern Arabic and an Anglo-Arabic Dictionary, in European type, with advantage, I should greatly wish another journey to Turkey, but as I have no children to leave with my wife, and she would be killed with ennui if I took her, and would more than double the expense, I have not seen how to do it. Besides, I want money to publish my books. . . . General Grant's position between Petersburg and Richmond is become terribly anxious (my last news was his loss of six thousand men in attacking the fortresses behind the one which he blew up), and unless ultimately successful, the longer he tarries, the more complete will be his disaster. . . . I have always been despondent as to the Northern scheme for forcing its way through Eastern Virginia; and am not the better reconciled to it by Grant's campaign. There is no sound success for the North now, unless they put the "coloured" race politically on equal terms with the "whites," and not to do so when "colour" is legally undefinable, and when the only loyal citizens in loyal provinces are "coloured," is an alarming infatuation. I suppose they must suffer more and more, until they resolve that the slave owners of Kentucky, and the colour bigots of Illinois and Pennsylvania, shall be forced to yield to patriotic necessities. Perhaps until they put down Slavery and serfdom within their own limits, they are not to be allowed success against the rebels. Mr. Lincoln's gratuitous establishment of serfdom in Louisiana, and recognition of the pardoned rebels, as the only citizens worthy to hold power, has filled me with despair of him. It is now clear from his own avowals, that he will do no more justice to the coloured race than he is forced to do.