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,