ASK, RANT OR PRAISE, BUT NEVER IGNORE 

This is the heart of our web site, the place where readers reign. So many of the best ideas come from you. But don't forget that we need you to subscribe to our email NEWSLETTER. And more, we need you to tell your friends to sign up. That's how we measure our success and draw in our advertisers who pay for this all to happen -- in our 14th year. (Click headline to read letters below)

EDITOR’S NOTE: You may wonder why I’m posting August letters before letters from July. I wonder too. Just so many reader letters piling up. I do respond to all letters as soon as they arrive, but getting them posted – that’s another task. Here are a few from the last few days. – JDR

MEMORIES OF U-BOATS AT KITTERY 
Your picture (German U-boats at PNY) reminds me that on a visit of my father, George Leonard Smith, USNA 1898 to Exeter and Aunt Molly Summerfield, father took us to visit the U-boat (6) pack captured and tied up at Portsmouth Navy Yard. I wrote in my diary standing on the "con" seeing attached to the German U-boat “polaris issued by US Navy” I think also was a GE search light. I wrote it all down in a diary, I think.  but it DID MAKE A DEEP IMPRESSION.  -- Joystar

PRINCE CHARLES CAME TO TOWN 
Hi Dennis—One of the recent historic things I remember as being quite cool was when Prince Charles came to Portsmouth for the 350^th in 1973. I know there was a garden party for him at the Gov. Goodwin Mansion. Did Mayor Brady also have a reception for him at his house as well? I always thought that was the case. -- From John Rice

EDITOR’S REPLY: In my book I used one photo of Prince Charles with the Smith Family who conveniently moved the centennial of Wentworth by the Sea up one year to accommodate the Prince. There are a pictures of the prince with Arthur Brady at the Goodwin Mansion in the Athenaeum collection.

A GOOD PAUL JONES RESOURCE 
I found your John Paul Jones page this morning here:  I'm updating my lesson plans this summer. (I teach Social Studies) and your site will be a great addition to my "Research Resources" packet. Thanks so much for putting it together... I look forward to using it!  -- From Brenda McKenzie

CAN I QUOTE YOU?
I am writing an article on Oney Judge, runaway slave.  Can I credit/use some of your information from article from Evelyn Gerson?  -- From Rosemary

EDITOR’S REPLY: Sure. You can use short citations in quotation marks and credit the author by name and our Web site correctly as the source. The material is for your use as long as you cite and acknowledge ideas and facts presented by the author, and quote only short passages with attribution.

LOVED SAWTELLE COLLECTION SHOW 
Dear Mr. Robinson: My wife and I visited the Sawtelle exhibit at Discover Portsmouth yesterday.  We enjoyed ourselves immensely. From the paintings of the ships and the people to the collectibles and the descriptive cards next to each, the gallery reinforced in my mind the rich heritage of Portsmouth and the surrounding community as a shipbuilding force. I particularly liked the historical value of tracking the ships around the world, to China and England and to San Francisco to support the boom there. Amazing that so many ships led some wonderful "lives" and some didn't make it very far. Thank you again for keeping me in tune with our seacoast with your Seacoast NH newsletter. -- From Mell Fuller, Exeter. NH

PICTURING WHITTIER’S BROTHER
Thanks for posting your online tour of the Whittier Home. Any chance you could get a shot of the photo which is on the wall just above Whittier's desk, of his brother Matthew? The bottom of it is just barely visible here:
Best regards from Stephen in SC

EDITOR’S REPLY: Those online shots of the house are at least a decade old, but the one below shows a bit more of the photo above the desk. I'd forgotten that JGW even had a brother whose life was apparently tough. He is scarcely mentioned in Woodwell's 600-page bio, but he is pictured in a full page photo of a painting on page 469. I noticed I did have a picture of that portrait and will post a low-res version in the Letters section as soon as I can get a break from writing and lectures this week.  I did get a tiny bit more of the photo above the desk in the "Garden Room," but scarcely enough to notice. If you've not toured the Amesbury House, you definitely want to do so. It’s a wonderful way to connect with the poet.