Since I last wrote I have placed copies of the Niagara Memorial at three Club Houses and have a man taking signatures at Buffalo and Montreal. I shall have them all in a few days. Next week I shall want to print & present it. But in what order? Its as puzzling as an English dinner. I state the puzzle not expecting you to help me but shall be very glad if you do. It seems to me that the Englishmen, as guests should come first, but if so, must not we put Carlyle & Ruskin first? Is it expedient to give the demagogues & ranters such an opportunity as this would offer—quoting the ugly sayings of these men about us?

Then, on our side, I am inclined to put Church, the artist, first, because he was the first, as far as I know, to advance the proposition & I believed he brought it before Lord Dufferin. But then—Emerson & Longfellow to come after? And the Vice President, Supreme Court, Senators, Bishops, where are they? I expect even the Cardinal!

Can I resolve it by the Alphabet? If so shall I jump as the alphabet requires from Oxford to Buffalo, Buffalo to Caribou & Caribou to Washington?

Finally, shall I attempt to give each or any man his proper tail? Shall I write “Lord Houghton.” (He signs “Houghton-Tipton (?) Hall.” “ B. Jowett”, adds “Master of Baliol & Reg. Profr of Greek at the University of Oxford.” But few do so. If I do anything of the kind, I shall need to have you go over the list. Gov. Seymour & others of the Comsn are afraid. They must not be made responsible for anything which can be thought extravagant or [472] opposed to Democratic instincts. Dorsheimer made a draught which he thought they would come to and has allowed me to add a good deal to it. As thus amended it is a good starting point & I have two signatures to lead off with. Probably Seymour will want to cut out a part.

I have not much confidence of success because nobody at Albany is interested but it would be shameful not to do all we well can. I wonder if your Nation came to you all cock-abill. Ours did & it seemed to me that it must have gone through an edition. I have not dared to ask Godkin. He is still stranded with boils and I fear regards all of us who are not as frivolous creatures.

I felt that I was rather weak in being drawn into St. Botolph. (I am pining for the lives of the Saints) but I saw it might in a pinch serve to define my ecclesiastical position and as my business lies now more in Boston than N.York, I might soon prefer to drop the Century. I was finally comforted when I saw your name.