"Your obedient servants,

"Wm. Cullen Bryant,Andrew H. Mickle,
James Lawson,E. K. Collins,
Saml. Ward,George Davis,
Cornelius Mathews,Moses Taylor,
Wm. F. Havemeyer,Evert Duyckinck,
Parke Godwin,H. Weecks,
Fitz-Greene Halleck, E. R. Hart,
B. F. Voorhis,Isaac Townsend,
Prosper M. Wetmore,A. Ingraham,
James F. Otis,Jonathan Sturgis,
C. A. Clinton,A. G. Stebbins,
Jas. T. Brady,Theodore Sedgwick,
David Graham, Jr.,George F. Thomson,
L. B. Wyman,Charles Minturn,
Francis Griffin,George Montgomery,
Dr. John F. Gray,John P. Cisco,
John Britton,J. M. Miller,
Henry Wikoff,Minthorne Tompkins,
D. P. Ingraham,Charles P. Daly,
Jas. Phalen,Robt. H. Morris,
W. M. Beckwith,Edwd. Vincent,
Mortimer Livingston,Charles M. Leupp."

To this letter he thus replied:

"New York, Oct. 12th, 1846.

"Gentlemen,—I have had the honor to receive your very kind letter of the 10th inst., in behalf of a number of my friends and fellow-citizens, inviting me to a public dinner, and requesting me to name a day most convenient to myself for its acceptance.

"It did not need this additional testimony to the many already conferred upon me by my fellow-citizens of New York, to assure me of their kind regard, and I feel for this, as well as for other tokens of esteem, that I am indebted more to their kindness than to any deserving upon my part.

"I accept, however, with pleasure, the invitation you have conveyed to me in such flattering terms, and, with permission, appoint Friday next, the 16th instant, as the day to meet my friends as they propose.

"I remain, gentlemen, yours, with sentiments of the highest respect and regard,

"Edwin Forrest.

"To Messrs. Wm. C. Bryant, C. A. Clinton, etc."