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376

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consented to the publication of the catalogue, provided the reproduction were omitted. The final negotiations for the Caxton book were conducted by myself for Mr. Whistler's side of the question.

When the Grolier plans were made public, I communicated immediately with Miss. Birnie-Philip, and during the intermin, considerable correspondence has passed between us. In my recommendations to her, I wrote, expressing practically the same thought as you set forth in the postscript to your letter, telling her, in fact, that the Grolier Club would, doubtless, do the work more systematically and perfectly than any other association or publishing firm is likely to do in the near future, and adding that it might as well to co-operate with them. At the same time, I felt it my duty to remind her of my conversations with Mr. Whistler and herself and Mrs. Whibley on this very subject, in connection with the Caxton Club. I left, however, of course, a decision to herself. She has sent a written protest to the Grolier Club, but I feel that her decision therein given is subject to future consideration. I shall send her a copy of your letter which came this morning, including the post script, and ask her to consider all the facts most carefully. Your opinion concerning the copyright of the etchings and lithographs will show her,