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[[image of initials]] New York Dec. 21st./68

My Dear Hotchkiss - 
I must commence by promising you first a short letter - else I shall never get another one to Charly and it seems to me a thousand more. Your welcome letter came just about the time of my leaving [[Ellens?]] Falls I determined to answer then and there which I duly did not.  I envy your being in Rome.  Any thing more hopeless than wet and filth of New York it would be difficult to match.  I am now sorry I could not have stayed in the country for there I worked well - as it is I have been here now just 5 weeks and probably have not worked one week [[struckthrough]] of [[/struckthrough]] in all that time.  The reason is that I could not find a P.T.O 

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that was so full - also for ten dollars a set of [[Drovers?]] - life of Christ - called the Little passion - reproduced in fac-simile by photolithography.  There are to be had some splendid books and [[?]] dear, one the History of painings, but you and I have some title pages that rather take them down.  I think we ought to have kept [[Mtns?]] on Tire.  [[underline] Don't [[/underline]] you be giving away any thing and if you go around to book States have an eye out for me as well as for yourself.  I don't think I can get away before Spring - then I shall steer [[8'?]] for Italy - give my love to Charly and all the best. my next letter will be to him.  I hope this will find you cheerful old boy - I long to see you - [[Carrie?]] sends regards Ever your sincere friend.  
[[Elisha Vedder?]]