March 15, 2006 Mail Stop 4561 By U.S. Mail and facsimile to (617) 422-8877 Mr. Donald R. Peck Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer The First Marblehead Corporation The Prudential Tower 800 Boylston Street, 34th Floor Boston, MA 02199-8157 Re:	The First Marblehead Corporation Form 10-K for the period ended June 30, 2005 	File No. 001-31825 Dear Mr. Peck: We have completed our targeted review of your Form 10-K and related filings and have no further comments at this time. Sincerely, 							Don Walker 							Senior Assistant Chief Accountant Donald R Peck, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer The First Marblehead Corporation Page 1 of 2