Publication InformationFlorence Aug 16 1862

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My Dear Marsh --

I must write--if only a few lines to thank you for your book and the pamphlets -- I have not had time to examine either of them--but shall do so soon --

We--(Longworth and I) got home last Saturday--4 days from after enjoying our trip very much, but disappointed at seeing so little -- What can be done in 4 short weeks--in such a place as London? -- I shall not now attempt to describe any thing -- The American department--raised my pride not a little -- This of course--in relation to the Exhibition. It beat all other departments out and out in originality of invention--such neat and clever things! and so useful! -- Storms rifle, has taken the world by -- It is so simple! Every one laughs at its simplicity--as much as to say--is this all? and yet you see at once that it is quite enough--nothing could be added with advantage--and there is nothing to take away -- A little hollow plug--hinged on to the barrel so as to turn up and down, nothing more -- There is no perceptable addition to the

Common rifle--and there is no reason for doubting that the principle can be applied to Cannon--on the whole, it is such an invention as might have come from an ordinary school boy--and it shows how science overlooks the most simple things--for it has been overlooked by the Whitworths Armstrongs and all the host of gun inventors --

I did not intend to say so much about this gun when I sat down--but rather to talk about affairs at home --

I am not discouraged--but am a good deal worried -- We have not had licking enough I am afraid -- Our people think that at least--their homes are safe--and they wont turn out for the war until they find the enemy knocking at their very doors--but then they will -- I am afraid we shall hear of nothing but disasters until then --

British Statesmen are speaking out at last. Mr Roebuck has led off--in earnest. "We are the scum of Europe" in his estimation and he was loudly cheered at Sheffield -- The Prime Minister did not rebuke him -- Sheffield goods should be dear in our country after this -- Every razor from that town, ought to cut the throat of the American using it. -- We shall soon hear how such sentiments affect our people --

Love to all from us all --

References in this letter:

Marsh's Lectures on the English Language, a revision of lectures he had delivered at Columbia University in the winter of 1858-1859, was published in 1860; revised editions appeared in 1861,1872, and 1885.

(Nicholas) Longworth Powers, Hiram and Elizabeth Powers' second child, was born in Cincinnati in 1835 and died in 1924 in Florence after a long career there as a photographer.

The English inventors Joseph Whitworth (1803-1887) and William George Armstrong (1810-1900) made improvements to rifles.

John Arthur Roebuck (1802-1879) was a radical member of Parliament 1849-68. Over his career, his views vacillated from radical to conservative, from promoting a policy which would cause the expropriation of the property of the Church of England, to the debate in which he warned against placing political power in the "hands of the ignorant".