<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001398344-18-007360.txt : 20180723
<SEC-HEADER>0001398344-18-007360.hdr.sgml : 20180723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180511171231
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001398344-18-007360
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180511

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000033934
		IRS NUMBER:				132727013
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 PICTORIA DRIVE, SUITE 450
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45246
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(513) 587-3400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 PICTORIA DRIVE, SUITE 450
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45246

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EIS FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020109

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EXCELSIOR INCOME SHARES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
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<TR>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic">Phone:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 90%; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic">(212)885-5234</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic">Fax:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic">(917)898-1392</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic">Email:</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic">cschrenko@blankrome.com</TD></TR>
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<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 4.5in; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; text-align: right; margin-bottom: 0">May 11, 2018</P>

<P STYLE="margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-transform: uppercase"><U>VIA EDGAR</U></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">Securities and Exchange Commission<BR>
Division of Investment Management<BR>
100 F Street, N.E.<BR>
Washington, D.C. 20549</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

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<TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in">Re:</TD><TD>Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (File Number: 811-02363)</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in">Registration Statement on Form N-2</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in"><U>Request for Selective Review</U></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">To Whom It May Concern:</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">The above-referenced filing
(the &ldquo;Registration Statement&rdquo;) of our client, Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. (the &ldquo;Fund&rdquo;), being filed
on May 11, 2018, is based on and is substantially similar to the registration statement on Form N-2 of the Cornerstone Strategic
Value Fund Inc. (File Nos.: 811-05150 and 333-218644) which was reviewed and declared effective by the Staff on July 10, 2017.
Please accept this letter as a request under the selective review procedures discussed below with respect to the Staff&rsquo;s
review of the Registration Statement.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">In this regard, the Staff
follows certain selective review procedures for registration statements, set forth in Securities Act Release No. 6510 (Feb. 15,
1984), which are applicable to all management investment company registration statements. The Staff may determine not to review
a registration statement (or portions of a registration statement) based on similarity to prior filings that have been reviewed
by the Staff. Based on these procedures, a registrant may identify portions of prior filings similar or identical to, and intended
to serve as precedent for, a current filing.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">The Registration Statement
represents a &ldquo;rights offering&rdquo; of the Fund&rsquo;s shares, the terms and conditions of which are substantially similar
to those contained in the registration statement of the Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund Inc. referenced above.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in">Please contact me at (212)
885-5234 or Thomas R. Westle at (212) 885-5239 with any questions you may have or for any further information you may desire.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"></P>

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<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 11pt; layout-grid-mode: line; width: 50%">Very truly yours,</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 11pt; layout-grid-mode: line">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 11pt; layout-grid-mode: line">/s/ Courtney B. Schrenko</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 11pt; layout-grid-mode: line">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font-size: 11pt; layout-grid-mode: line">Courtney B. Schrenko</TD></TR>
</TABLE>


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