Benjamin S. Lyman., 09/08/1856-09/08/1856

ALS (dated 9/8/1856, with envelope) to Franklin B. Sanborn from Benjamin S. Lyman, with news of the completion of his employment with Mr. Lesley, topographical engineer, and of the subsequent fact that he is now on the look out for teaching positions. Reference also to Charles Sumner and Kansas affairs: "...I heard Mr. Furness (William H. Furness (1802-96), clergyman and anti-slavery advocate) preach yesterday morning and evening. He delivered very fine sermons...In the morning, he touched on the subject of Kansas, and handled it very well. After the morning services we were very much surprised to see Charles Sumner coming out of the church. Quite a crowd gathered about him of friends and strangers, to speak with him or to see the great man. He looked pretty well, and everybody seemed very glad to see it..." Other news included about friend Mitchell and impressions of Philadelphia from where Lyman was writing: "...This city differs from New York and Boston more I think than those do from each other. The streets and buildings have the utmost uniformity. The streets, with only one or two exceptions, are laid out in rectangles, and almost all the dwelling houses are three story brick ones. The population is not nearly as much crowded as in New York, and covers an immense space. The public squares are a marked feature of the city. They are numerous, though not large and are filled with large, shady trees. There are in them, too, various kinds of animals that are very tame, such as squirrels, gray and black, and some deer and peacocks...."