I want briefly to report progress to you about Niagara. We have had a meeting at the Falls of four of the N. York Commissioners and the Premier & Members of the Council of Ontario. The general outlines of a scheme which I presented was fully approved by all. The Ontario party was unwilling to make it a govermnt measure, fearing that it would be resented as an extravagance by the farmers & might force them out of office. They rather thought they would try to have it made a Dominion matter feeling sure of the favor of the Governor General but fearing strong opposition from the lower provinces, who would claim that it was no affair of theirs. There was more confidence & more boldness on our side — perhaps because no one had anything to lose by it if confidence was misplaced. On both sides it was felt to be a question how far the pride of the people could be touched. Geddes, a good representative of the better farming class, said, “New York farmers will not want to appear before the world as mean in a matter of this kind” and Mowatt, the Ontario chief, said: “If your people move strongly ours will be ashamed to hold back.” They all thought that the publication of our memorial with weighty names would have much effect.

Someone in the Provinces has gone abroad, promising to get many English signatures and I am afraid that it has been circulated as a popular thing in Canada. To a certain extent it has got out of my hands.

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What I now propose is to get as many signatures of the really notable men of the time of all countries as I well can — and publish the Memorial, say in December, with the names and (generally) the leading distinctions of those attached. To bind the originals and give them as valuable autographs to the Governor, but to recall one of the volumes and if the measure is successful, let it be kept at the Managing Office at Niagara as a matter of historical interest. (Not simply because of its historical interest, but because it would help to keep alive and enforce the idea ever after that the proper protection of the Falls was a matter of dignity & world-wide interest.)

As a wider range must be given the memorial than I had at first designed, would you be disposed to solicit a few more signatures? It is for you to judge whose — Any men whose names are to live or which ought to live. There is Darwin, at any rate, who should not be omitted, & I should like you to consider the artists, as well as the Scientific men of the time.

You will see that I have two thoughts about it now. One to touch the pride of our people at the moment — The other to give a weight to the undertaking for the future. And as the range of selection is to be enlarged there are more men whom I would not like to have omitted and I can’t trust to the judgment in selection of the unknown canvassers. I mean to retain the power, within certain limits of dropping off — or at least of determining prominence in the publication, if not the final disposition of the signatures.

Would you think it intrusive too much to ask Carlyle for his original signature, in this new view of the matter?

I hope to be in Cambridge for a day or two in about a fortnight.