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No.33 Ferry Avenue,
Detroit, Michigan,
February 23, 1905.

My dear Colonel Hecker:--

I am inclosing some newspaper clippings which will tell you of happenings at Washington. You will be pleased to know that your declination of director's fees in the Panama railroad has been made very clear through the press.

Owing to the illness of several members of the Committee of the Board of Regents appointed to visit Detroit for the purpose of examining my collections, postponement followed, but the Committee of four, consisting of Professor Langley, Senator Henderson, Dr. Alexander Graham Bell and President Angell, are expected here on Saturday next. Their desire is to see the art objects and report to a meeting of the Board of Regents to be held on March 8th, at which time it is likely the gift will either be accepted or declined. I think, however, there is little probability of the gift being refused. The leading newspapers of the country have treated the matter with unexpected liberality and breadth of vision and while of course the Committee are entirely incompetent to judge of the art value of the collections, the Board of Regents itself will probably be favorably influenced by the attitude of the leading papers of the country. 

Affairs at the office are moving along all right and Mr. Kennedy is keeping you informed of your correspondence and business details.

With all good wishes to yourself and Henry, believe me,

Yours very sincerely,
Charles L. Freer

Colonel Frank J. Hecker,
c/o Brown, Shipley and Co., 123 Pall Mall, London, England.
Typewritten.

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