In reply to yours of 20th I am sorry to say that I should not at all like such an arrangment as you propose. I cannot write in a popular way upon my subject and I have no gift for public speaking. I could not make myself heard by such an audience as might assemble on the mountain, nor if I could should I be likely to long hold its attention.

But I might write a semi scientific treatise on Public Parks with special reference to the conditions presented by the city of Montreal and by the topography of Mount Royal and I could read such a paper intelligibly to a considerable audience under favorable circumstances. I have done something of this kind in other cities with good results.

I should prefer to address particularly the class of men indicated in the opening of my last letter to you, and those conservative citizens who while well disposed to philanthropic and educational interests look with some jealousy upon the park as an extravagent play thing by which the city is liable to be drawn into excessive expenditures.

The success of the park scheme in Buffalo was largely influenced by getting a small hall full of such people together with the Common Council by special invitations, opportunity being given at the end of my lecture for questions and debate.

This might not be a convenient or proper way of proceeding in your case & I only mention it to show you how my judgment points.

But I know I could do nothing out of doors & that there is no place on the mountain in which my plans could be suitably shown and explained.

The city is essentially under martial law, the whole of its military force having been since yesterday afternoon waiting orders at the armories, ready to march with ammunition and rations. But that is all. You see the uniformed men at the windows in passing and a small crowd of boys and tramps looking at them and nothing else, the streets being a little quieter than usual and no excitement apparent.

Dr Elliott called last night and had evidently been among people who were a little panicked. He thought the boys safer at Harrisburg than here and apparently came to induce me to telegraph Owen to stay there but agreed that Phoenixville would be better still, and I advised Owen accordingly.

I see that our neighbors are a little excited tonight and think we may have mobs tomorrow. Mr Carey is spending the night at the 7th Regt Armory, serving as a substitute, being himself an ex-member.

I have no fear, the precautions taken being I think adequate. However, after Dr Elliott left last night I doubled the sentries and directed the armorer to load the individual mountain howitzers.

He, (John) went off early this morning to Brooklyn & staid late, returning less tired than usual, though he says he walked all over the park.

We have heard nothing from Owen since yesterday morning. There was a little row at Harrisburg late last night very promptly and neatly put down by the citizens. In fact Harrisburg has behaved better than any other town.

The sultry weather continues.