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June 4/97.

My dear Mansfield:

An unusual rush of travel during the last month has prevented earlier answer to your letter of some two weeks ago.

I trust that when yourself and Mrs. Mansfield go to Minnesota you will travel via Detroit and stop off at least a couple of days here. I am going to Montreal this eveing in company with Gen. Alger, Col. Hecker, and one or two others for a Sunday with Van Horn, after which I believe we are to visit Quebec and return home the latter part of next week. Later I expect to spend a couple of days at Buffalo, but during the rest of the month of June I am counting upon being at home, so I trust it will be convenient for yourself and Mrs. Mansfield to favor me with as much time as you can on your way to the Northwest.

I learned yesterday of the death of Rice's father and of the change of plans. I judge however from what he writes that Rice expects to sail for Italy about the middle of June. It is a great thing that he finds so agreeable an escape from the horrors of hay fever.

We have had a very backward spring, and although the farming community in this locality are suffering considerably, it has on the other hand made the spring blossoms unusually beautiful and long-lived.

With cordial greetings to Mrs. Mansfield and yourself, I remain,

Yours faithfully,
Charles L. Freer

Mr. Howard Mansfield,
35 Wall St., New York.