No. 14 Belgrave Place
Charleston, S. C.
Astor House, New York, Jan. 27th, 1863.
Dear Madam:
Permit me to present to you my friend, Mr. James Stuart—a gentleman whose polished manners and irreproachable character embolden me to request for him the honor of an acquaintance with even so fastidious and accomplished an arbiter of fashion as yourself.
Mr. Stuart will be able to give you all the information you may desire respecting our mutual friends and acquaintances in society here.
Do me the honor to make my very respectful compliments to the Misses Modish, and to believe me, dear madam,
Most respectfully,
Your friend and servant,
Robert B. Hawks.
Mrs. Modish.
Letters presenting foreigners, should designate the country and particular locality to which they belong, as well as the purpose of their tour, as—"The Chevalier Bonné, of Berne, Switzerland whose object in visiting our young Republic is not only the wish to compare our social and political institutions with those of his own country, but the collection of specimens and information respecting the Natural History of the United States. Such assistance as you may be able to render my learned friend, in facilitating his particular researches, will confer a favor upon me, my dear sir, which I shall ever gratefully remember," etc., etc.