The Regional Review moves slightly afield from its accustomed editorial course in reproducing the 136-year-old letter shown above. Written in Bristol, England by George Braikenridge to his father-in-law, Francis Jerdone, a merchant of Richmond, Virginia, who is said to have established America's first chain store system, the brief message affords a striking historical parallel between 1804 and 1940. In 1804 it was Napoleon who poised his forces for a descent on England, a threat never translated into reality. ". . . there seems to be no dread here about it," wrote Braikenridge, "the whole Nation seems confident . . ." The original of the letter was made available to The Review by courtesy of Malcolm C. Graham, Accountant-in-Charge, United States Treasury State Accounts Office, Richmond.