I have just received your note (dated tomorrow).

I am really sorry to hear of your disconnection with the C. & E. because it is so good a thing to have men of ability and cultivation, who can not [198] be made hacks, yet working as a part of the system of the newspaper. Your last gun was not only gratifying to my pride but happened most timely, the day of its publication being the day of debate on Mr. Dillon’s amendments in the Board & the Tribune & Herald having each an article in support of them & against my plan the same morning. Your article was more than once referred to and quoted from in the debate which resulted in a decided defeat of the amendments (& in Mr. Dillon; & Mr. Belmont; declining, in a huff, to act on any committees).

It will give [me] great pleasure to breakfast with you as you propose, and as I have several demands to be out of town Sunday, if equally convenient to yourself & to Curtis, I should prefer that you said Tuesday. Please let me know your conclusion as early as practicable.

I am very much indebted to you for the trouble you are taking. The besiegers are on the alert and the garrison depends for success on keeping its communications open on both flanks.

You speak of the approach to the New Reservoir and ask if it is to be precipitous or gradual. The plan will show you its peculiar half natural half artificial shape; it is to be constructed with a sloped embankment—not a built wall. Under these circumstances—as the embankment will be on an average 20 feet high on the East & West sides—this will of course make it a conspicuous affair. The plan assumes that it will be necessary (after the Croton Board have done their work) to bestow considerable labor in easing off the slopes and compelling this artificial construction to assume in its general contours a more decidedly natural appearance.

In some places the present surface is on a level with the proposed water line. These we select as the points for reaching the walk or ride round the new reservoir as they can be the most easily adapted to the purpose.

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The half natural form leaves but little choice in the matter. The result must be either a very manifest interpolation or—by filling the low spots and extending the absolutely necessary earthwork—a comparatively harmless construction so far as the appearance of the park is concerned. We hold that it must be improved in appearance if this part of the park is not to be a permanent eyesore. There is no serious difficulty in the way of making the approaches easy. I hope to see you before long and to hear how you are progressing with the “Arena’’.

Do not forget that the park even now offers some temptations in the way of fresh air and green grass to those who are training for the combats.

My weak eyes, tonight, have compelled me to become a dictator—but I am none the less