BLACKWELL FAMILY From Leifchild, I.
ELIZABETH BLACKWELLJohnny Turner
Primrose Hill London
April 1858

My Dear Friend

Two of your wonderful daughters 
have favoured us with a visit. They 
reminded me that you would value 
a line or two from me, were it only 
 remind you of our constant friendship. Next hand has in [?] which used so often to be linked with yours in going about doing good; but I forward you [?] a brief memento of her many excellencies, which I [???] in your memory; as do those of us whose hand was still when united for years to yours, but is cold as hers. Never mind: We [?] all be young again. His first will all be recalled, with brighter views, + [?] complete intelligence, when our meeting will be final and perpetual. 
I have through your dear girls are of the letters love, of [?]last mentioned, & one from you to Mrs L, with 
the wish that the sentiments it contained 
may be wrought with the hearts of those 
who are still left to you. Where did your 
girls get their indomitable energy, and 
boundless spirits of enterprise? Doubtless through 
both their parents as their media, but originally 
from the given of every good & perfect gifts. 
To him let the spirit of praise spread from this 
fire on the altar where he expanded it. Now
that voyages are made with more than 
winged speed & interminable distances between 
counties, reduced as it were to a brief 
space, it may not be extravagant to be
what we may yet meet or inhabitants & title 
of this planet ; but if not, there is another 
sphere, where we shall have sufficient 
masks of identity & recognition without any 
of the present defects & incumbrancers : eyes to 
smite but never to weep, temper & praise but
never to complain, hands never hang down, 
but to be ever lifted up in exclamation & triumph, 
and facts or rather wings, to more in obstructedheavenly wheats, with the capacity of Triumph, from
one each of intelligence to another, & from
world to world.

We are also the candid, unworldly, & pious -
delighted with the account of the earth &
perseverance of religion, in you and of [had]
country. I accept it with the nine pleasure
as an omen of the future, and harbinger of
a brighter day than as yet has dawned upon
our world. Strange that we prepared it if
country should so warp the mind of some
here, as to cast a shade of dark is the
reality, at least in the continuance of
the present animation of that part of trouble.
But it was an early complaint - "I work
a week in your days - a work while ye can
in nowere believe, tempt a man declare
it unto you." But let God work, and sooner or
later, all the men of wisdom shall be his
hand. May we attest you still bear 
traces of grace forgiven in the form in [?????]
I knew given, heel of [????] forever this may be,
Horvath Stineof the inner life have changed only into greater 
beauty &[?]  [?celebrate] again. 

The beings of the mind are not of clay,
Essentially immortal, they create,
And multiply in us a brighter way,
And more beloved existence.
Watering the heart whose early flowers have died,
And with a fresher growth replenishing the void

Now, your unlegible hand might indicate
a much larger epistle to me, and I should be
glad indeed to be indulged with your thoughts
on what is taking place in the new world;
with something of the premintory state of
your own mind, on what to me becomes the
one, permanent, & [?obvious] subjects,-this
religion of the Bible, in the world and in our
hearts. I will hope, but cannot be fully
sure that you respond to these views unless
I see it [posted?] in your [your] own hand writing.
Yours affectionately
J. Leifchild

Leifchild April
London 158