We think here that had you in the beginning or early in the affair said a few kind things as to D^r Deane’s merits, as you have now said them in the winding up, he would have been perfectly satisfied and you would have been regarded as acting with magnanimity and your own merits would have [been] promptly and fully acknowledged by him. I have always thought him entitled to more credit that that of merely ‘putting you upon the track‘ for I know that he has labored with zeal & success & with considerable sacrifice. I did not say that his labors were before yours. I did not mean so, but his information & his correct impression were earlier than either yours or mine, & this was a historical fact which gave him priority in the historical record, which was all that I intended. If it is of any importance to correct the misstatement as to you being under public pay, that can be done & should be, if you will send a paragraph to appear editorially.