Jefferson Davis to Isham G. Harris

London. England.

18 Upper Gloucester Place.

Dorset Square – June 22nd. 1869.

My Dear Sir,

Your letter of the 27th. ult. after being twice forwarded reached me at this place to day. I am deeply sensible of your kindness, and sincerely thank you for your well directed effort to serve me. You are right in the supposition of the entire loss of my property. Several offers have been made to me of positions in the South which were very acceptable, but which I have had to decline because from their nature there was cause to fear that the persistent hostility of our enemy would be brought to bear disadvantageously upon the interests confided to me.

The proposition which you make especially if the office be established in Baltimore seems to me to be free from that objection and to me personally would be very agreeable – You can therefore inform your friends whose kind consideration has enabled you to make the offer that I will be ready to accept it – Though they and you are no doubt aware that I have had no previous training in such busness as that to which it is proposed to call me –

I had expected to have returned to our country this Spring, and should have done so but for ill health in my family, and subsequently the state of my own health warned me not to return in midsummer to the immediate section which was once my home.

I have often thought of you and followed your course with that interest which belongs to the warm regard which your official and personal conduct created – Beleive me very truly Your friend

Je[ffn],, Davis

From The Papers of Jefferson Davis, Volume 12, pp 361-62. Transcribed from the original, Forbes Magazine Collection.