Returning from a professional journey, I have just received your favor of the 14th October.

I have not visited San Diego, but have several times been in the southern parts of California, and have had a residence of three years in the State and have given the subject of the suitable designing of pleasure grounds in it much thought. I cannot say that I have reached an entirely satisfactory conclusion, but of this I am satisfied: that most that has been done in that respect throughout the State is unsuitable and will eventually be discarded, and that all ideals derived from good practice in the Atlantic States and the North of [399]Europe must be abandoned. In such an extensive and important work as that you contemplate at San Diego, originality of treatment suitably to the special local conditions would be necessary at every point. We feel that such a work would require, for a long time, the close and absorbing attention of the designer, and we regret to be obliged to say that, with our present engagements east of the Rocky Mountains, we do not feel that we could undertake to give the problem such attention, at least for some time to come.

Respectfully Yours,