Written three weeks after the unexpected death of the newly-inaugurated President William Henry Harrison (and in the ongoing aftermath of the financial panic of 1837):

     “…My worldly prospects...not glowing...[but] not disheartened...will and energy not wanting, only the opportunity. The prospects of the mercantile class are at present rather more encouraging than for some time past. Men of capital and prudence are able to do profitable business, but the chances for poor young men entering into business are very [firm?]

     You speak of the national bereavement, the death of the President. That unlooked for occurrence - unusually as painful - has given rise to the deepest sorrow to the whole country - and not to the party only of which he was the idol - political differences being sunk in the grave of the departed patriot. The death of no individual even affected me more, if as much, as that of the great and good Harrison. He had but one short month before been placed at the head of the government - possessing qualities of head and heart which… the one assured the people of his entire fitness for his responsible and exalted station, the other endeared him to his countrymen by the strongest ties of friendly love.

     We considered Gen. H. peculiarly well qualified to administer the affairs of government...to reconcile the conflicting political parties with each other…to unite us as a people having like interest in the preservation of our incomparable institutions. But a mysterious, yet allwise Providence saw fit to remove him hence, and although his loss must be considered a national calamity, we must also consider that He who rules over the Kingdoms of the earth, as well as in Heaven, can overrule all things for good, so that what might at first seem to be an irreperable loss or calamity, may in reality and in the end be great gain…this dispensation of Providence… teaches… the vanity of all earthly distinctions, that the exalted must die as well as the humble. that brilliant expectations and cherished hopes may be crushed in an hour... The death of the President will give occasion for  numberless sermons and discourses…We may indeed feel, as you remark, that 'all is well', all certainly will be well for us as a nation which we recognize the hand of God in this dispensation of providence…

    The fear - which it was reasonble to feel at first that Mr. Tyler might not be the right kind of man - has been nearly if not wholly quieted by the appearance of his Address, his Proclamation and by his general conduct since the reins of Government have come into his hands. Let us hope to find him a Harrison in ability, patriotism and virtue and look forward to national Prosperity, as we reasonably may with him at the helm of Government.

     Monday next has been fixed to holding a civic and military procession in this city, in memory of the late President, judging by the preparations made, it will be the largest and most imposing exhibition of the kind ever held here…”

     Yeakle had family both in Indiana and Maryland, where his sister Sarah was the first superintendent of a Lutheran “Infant School” in Hagerstown, 70 miles from Baltimore and Washington, D.C.