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let Shanghai wait for the latter part of my stay in China.  One needs a whole year to see the most interesting features of this great country, but my present visit will, I feel, enable me to get the information I seek.

The Hong Kong Shanghai Bank official kindly sent your letter of July 20th to me on board the Derfflinger before we reached our wharf, so I had an opportunity to read the same and to promptly cable you an answer.  I think very well of the plan to unite the interests of The Continental National Bank and The American Trust and Saving Bank of Chicago and I thank you for your goodness in sending me on the information now here and for signing my proxy.  The new stock with its equities should, if all goes well, command a good price.

One day later on board S.S. Derfflinger enroute to Shanghai --- I could not complete this letter at Dr. Voretzsch's home yesterday because of callers, so am adding the finishing lines this morning and shall mail from Shanghai.  I am glad to learn of the improvement of business in America and of the spurt in International Banking Corporation stock.  Their offices in Singapore and Hong Kong are well located, look business-like but very empty of visitors.  I hope elsewhere to find a larger patronage.  I am not surprised to hear of Richard Joy's resignation from the Union Trust Co.'s Board, --- his affiliations are in other directions and his sympathies as well, I fancy!  It is pleasant to know of the increased Thum Co.'s sales and of the larger earnings of the State Bank.  I hope that your trip to Mackinac, like the cruise with General and Mrs. Grant, proved very enjoyable, and that you and your family are enjoying the best of health.  With kindest messages to all.

Very sincerely

C.L. Freer

P.S.  With our small number of agreeable fellow passengers and very polite and efficient officers and crew the Derfflinger is like a huge private yacht.  Our first class passengers have at no time exceeded eighteen, at present only twelve.  Food first class, ship one year old and clean to the point of nicety.  Today the perfect weather continues.

Long hand.