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23

-3-

trouble.

Donaldson is extremely anxious to do the right thing in every way, but he feels little loath to undertake an experiment, and if you could come out here, even for a day, and look into the matter and join him in the responsibility, he would feel much easier in his mind.  Naturally, he feels that if he applies the Brown Hoisting Company's roof and it should fail in the near future, he would regret having taken the responsibility.  If it were my building, I should try it.  I believe the appearance, with the judicious use of white paint, will not be injured, and a water-tight covering would be attained.

I presume that my letter from Great Barrington reached you at the Waldorf this morning.  If it did not, it will be forwarded to you at Washington after the 29th instant.  In it, I had the pleasure of telling you how nicely Henry is getting on, and how that other matters here are going very smoothly.

I am sorry that no copy was made of my letter written you in time to catch the last steamer to Panama, but, as named above, its principal news was concerning the mausoleum.

As named in my letter sent from the Berkshires, I am to