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Carlton Hotel, 
Pall Mall,
London.

June 20th, 1902.

Dear Colonel Hecker:

This is my last day in London and I am really loath to leave, still, the crowds are growing so large that it is almost impossible to get about town. The week to follow this, that of the Coronation, will doubtless find in London more people than ever before gathered here. And the real dignity and beauty of exterior London is really lost in a wilderness of senseless decorations and illuminations costing millions of pounds. The Apache Indians or Grosse Pointe frenchmen could not conceive more unbeautiful things. The English officials having so often been told through the American and French press of their artistic shortcomings have proved it all, not only in abandoning the whole work themselves, but by what is still worse, entrusting it to the Italians!! So the lovely architecture of Sir Christopher Wrenn and others, is now buried under the tinsel gew gaws of a degenerate Florentine and faced with the raw mill products of the southern states and the forests of Norway. In all cross streets leading into the direct route of march the ugliest of great rough timber barricades have been built to prevent English people from crowding each other to death. What a reflection upon the best police force in the world, and what an insult to the most capable self-protecting, world-civilizing nation on the globe. 

It's horrible and tomorrow, Whistler and myself the only two sane men left, run away from it all, escaping to Holland, where we hope for quiet and reflection!!

We go together from Holland to Paris; arriving there the 28th inst. About July 2nd Whistler will return to London - and I accompanied by Coleman of Capri, will start for Spain - Velasquez!! The Alhambra!! Gibraltar!! Capri!!

With this I send you a copy of Yamanaka's invoice of the shipment of miscellaneous things consigned in your care. They are now enroute.
 
I have settled most amicably with Mr. Whistler! Good!! Of course, for things, by him, still unfinished a settlement some other year will follow. He has turned over to Messrs. William Marchant and Co. all of the things I have lent him in the past, together with all finished things by him belonging to me. My recent purchases of his work made from outside parties are all now in the hands of W. Marchant and Co.