Excerpt: MY DEAR FRIEND, -I do not know why twelve years of silence should forbid my calling you still by the name we used both to give and to accept of old. Aristotle says indeed- Greek text included in book... but he did not know the basis and the affections of a Christian friendship such as that to which-though I acknowledge in myself no claim to it-you were so kind as to admit me. Silence and suspension of communications cannot prevail against the kindliness and confidence which springs from such years and such events as once united us. Contentions and variances might indeed more...