Helen Hunt Jackson Papers, Part 2, Ms 0156, Box 2, Folder 24j, J.J. Pratt to HHJ, 1880.
Transcribed by Gloria Helmuth, 2003.

Envelope addressed:
Mrs. Helen Jackson
The Berkeley
Corner 4th Avenue & 9th Street
New York,
N.Y.
Postmarked: CINCINNATI DEC 20 4 PM; NEW YORK REC'D DEC 22 7 AM 80

North Bend, Ohio,
Dec. 13 1880

Dear Mrs. Jackson,

I have nothing connected with any newspaper for many months, but being in the city late on Saturday night I happened to go into the Commercial office & found your note enclosing the article on "Broken Indian Treaties" - it had doubtless been awaiting my call for several days. I was at the point of skating for my train, and reading your note (in which you speak plainly of Schurz's report) without having time then to read the article, it occurred to me that Mr. Halstead, being a personal friend of Mr. Schurz, would feel unwilling to reprint what I fancied was a direct & severe criticism on that gentleman, whose "[est... ....his souls immensily]" But I read the article carefully yesterday (Sunday) morning, & found that all the direct personal criticism was to your note; - I was greatly interested, too (as I have heretofore been with one or two of your longer Indian chapters in the Independent) and this morning I sent the article to Mr. Halstead, calling his attention to the interesting facts regarding the Indian it contains, re:
I hope he will be wise enough to republish it, for there are people in Cincinnati; already akin to the great wrongs inflicted on the Indians - many more who ought to be made sensible of them, but are now ignorant of them.

You are doing a great and good work, & in behalf of Logan and Tecumseh, whose great shadow still haunt this region (Tecumseh, I believe, came sometimes way up to North Bend) I thank you.

Perhaps I should, long since, have sent you the engraved portrait made from your photograph (the one Mr. Hites sent me: The other I hope reached you safely again); but I have been afraid. It has been well liked by those who have seen it, but then it might not (though I hope it will) please you. In that case which should we - I mean Mr. Dibble - do, the Engraving King, respectfully, done? It seems to me an excellent reproduction of the photograph.

Very truly respectfully

[J…?] J. Pratt.

P.S. By some unaccountable oversight this letter has remained unmailed for an entire week. I think if you could know how I have been driven by the duties of a very wearisome public office - duties greatly increased as the holiday season approaches - you would pardon me + & & Mr. Dibble tells me your portrait is probably already printed at Cambridge (Kincaid Press.) One reason I did not myself send you a copy of it was that I understood Mr. Dibble to say that he intended to send you the artist's proof himself. I earnestly hope the engraving may please you.

J.J.P.