O thou who art steadfast in the Covenant! The letter thou didst write hath been perused. Thou didst write concerning the diffusion of the Divine fragrances in that city. This was news such as to uplift the spirit. Assuredly thou hast by now brought together several of the friends, and been successful in dispatching teachers to outlying parts.
Convey to Madame Isabella the Russian my utmost love.
Should Mr. Browne1 pass through Bákú, do thou assuredly extend to him the utmost love and kindness: Perchance he will forgo his present tendentious course and speak with fairness, for the Azalís have misrepresented the matter in his eyes.
With respect to Isabella’s book, I wrote a letter to Paris, but this apparently hath not arrived. I shall write again.
In fine, my hope is that, through God’s invisible assistance, thou mayest day by day render ever greater service, and conduct thyself with the utmost steadfastness, so that the Caucasus may become the nest of the phoenix of mystery,2 Bákú may become redolent of musk, Tiflís may become a precious gem, Ganjih3 may become a store of riches, and Shíshih4 may become a scintillating pure crystal.
The debt of Alexandria and Haifa hath been discharged, for the sum hath been received, and the receipts that thou hadst previously requested have been sent.