I arrived here late last night, having taken the journey from Bilt. by easy stages, resting one night at Knoxville, the next at Cincinnati and the last at Indianapolis. Whether because of these rests or because of the change of [211]air, which at Bilt. was damp and sultry and here is dry and frosty, I am decidedly less uncomfortable since I arrived and last night slept better than before for several weeks.

I find here your letter of 11th forwarded from Bilt. Sorry not to find any thing later.

Harry & I had agreed that if they concluded to put the Fair on the West side we wd decline the appointment. That was one point we felt that we ought to consult you upon before taking action. That, however, has been settled as we would have it. Harry was inclined also to decline if they took Jackson Park. But since they have done so, taking also the “Lake Front” it is plain that he has changed his mind. He & Root have been very diligent making studies. Three in succession with somewhat different motives, all preserving essentially what we had reported to be desirable at our last visit. I think well of their last design as a basic general proposition. Harry thinks our footing here pretty firm. At least it is so with the local directors. The Commissioners from States now in session seem disposed to take an interfering & over ruling position. As yet every thing goes as well as we could hope.

I am to attend a meeting of the Com. on Buildg & Grounds this afternoon. As far as I can see now, it will not be desirable that I should stay more than a couple of days.

I reckon this letter will reach you Friday morning and you can telegraph me whether Manning can meet me in Rochester Sunday morning, and I can reply agreeing, if I can, to meet him there then. I am pretty sure that this can be done & so is Harry. But something may occur in the action either of the Commissioners or the Directors to prevent. Harry will remain longer, probably till a survey of the Jackson site can be completed & some approach to definite instructions obtained, as to the principal buildings. When he has this he will return & we will all go at the plan. I shall hope to get it off in time to go to Biltmore again, to meet Mr V. there, 10th to 15 proxo, & then go also to Atlanta. After which again to Chicago. I am afraid another visit to Biltmore will be a necessity. There is a good deal to be prepared about the planting there in the meantime. Which if we travel back together I can advance with Manning on the train from Rochester.

We hate to leave you with so much on your hands but it appears to be necessary. I hope matters are going smoothly—being most anxious about Boston Parks & Twombly.

Affctly

I have just arrived from Chicago and find your letter of the 17th. I left Mr. Codman in Chicago and my son is to-day in New York, but I have looked over the correspondence and believe I understand the circumstances.

The business at Chicago is, as yet, in such a confused and unsettled condition, and still is so pressing and its difficulties so great, that I must hold myself as much in readiness to go there, during the next three or four weeks, as I possibly can with justice to our other business. Hence, all I can say with regard to meeting you at Biltmore is that I greatly desire to do so and hope that I may, either by going with you, as you kindly suggest, on the 8th, or, if I am obliged to go first to Chicago, by moving South from there. Please tell me how long you are expecting to remain this time at Biltmore. I think you will find it pleasanter there now than ever before. With regard to the location of drives in that part of the Estate that I have not been over with you, {I should} much [214]prefer not to engage in any further study of that question, or to lodge any projects farther in my mind until I can take up the problem as a whole with the advantage of the complete topographical map, the survey for which should be finished during the coming Winter.

With regard to Point d’Acadie, I should think from Haskell’s reports that he was going rather farther than we expected him to at this time in wild stuff, but if so, I presume that it is with your knowledge and under some encouragement from you, and if at any point he should have planted an excess, we can make an adjustment and use any to spare at points that he will not have touched.

I enclose a list of plants advised to be purchased to be used in addition to the wild material. It is a liberal provision, but not more so than can be desirably used with reference to the class of landscape effects which, in my last visit, you indicated that you would be glad to secure. If you approve, please let us know at once, as the orders should be sent out very soon.

I should like very much to be able to plant next Spring a section—say a quarter of a mile at least—of the glen part of the approach road at Biltmore. The Rhododendrons which we have in the nursery for the purpose will not be fit to transplant before another year. If you are willing, I propose to order one thousand Rhododendrons from England, of a class that will cost five hundred dollars there, and two hundred choicer ones that will cost two hundred dollars. The charges for transportation would, I suppose, be about one third as much more. Please say if you assent to this.

Yours Very Truly,