I have just received your letter, and hasten to answer it ___ The discrepency [discrepancy] between the minutes of convention & my letter, to which you allude, grew out of my being prematurly [prematurely] sanguine in relation to obtaining a sufficient list for the paper by the fall meetings of Presbyteries ___ During the setting of conventions the prevailing oppinion [opinion] was, that less than 3000 subscribers would not pay the expenses of publication of the paper ___; Since that time the commeettee [committee] has concluded that 2500 would cover all expenses __ I felt very confident, that if the presbyteries represented in convention, with those who were in favor of the enterprize would make any like a simultaneous effort during the camp-meeting season, that there could be no doubt of a sufficient list being obtained by october ___ with that sort of confidence I thought it would a good policy to save [added: a] second canvass of all the ground, for subscribers to send their money up to Presbytery __ I am now persuaded however, that I was to sanguine, and took too much responsibility on myself in the case ___ I have not sent such [unclear: in [gap] hutions ] generally, and when I have, they can easily be countermanded ____ My principle reason for thinking now that I was premature is found in the fact, that there will be what I suppose might be termed an opposition paper ___ Br [Brother] Smith has sold his list of subscribers to bro [brother] Rice Harris , who will shortly [unclear: commenssing ] the C [Cumberland] Presbyteries at Springfield Roberton City ___ That paper will of

course prevent our getting a list as soon as we would otherwise have done, so we may expect nothing more by the meeting of Presbyteries than a list of names, without the money ___ I am obliged to you for your instruction and information ___ I will forward minutes and prospectus by the next mail ___ I have sent about 700 of each to points [unclear: seatered ] pretty much throughout our bounds; and so far as I have heard from them, they are doing well ___ At this post office there will be about 75 copies of the paper taken ___ I will send the minutes of convention & prospectus for our paper to Bro Harris so soon as he [unclear: commences issuing ] and request him to publish them to all his list ____ I am distrest [distressed] [added: with] fears of a division of the ranks in our beloved Church __ Of one part of the Church opposing the other, the feelings which ought never to be cherished in the bosoms of the deciples [disciples] of Christ. When I look back and see the union & brotherly love that prevailed only a few years since, and compare it with the present state of things, my heart sickens at the contrast ___ may the good Lord preserve that mutual confidence, and brotherly love which are so esential [essential] to success in the gospel of Christ Religion is at a low ebb here ___ Politicks precluding every thing else ___ when the [unclear: election is over ] we hope for better times ___ Father Ewing- pray for me, and give me all the instruction, that, at any time you may think I need ___

Yours most truly

Geo [George] Donnell