When I called on Mr Squier, Sunday morning, the servant said that he was on the Park, but had left word that I was to wait—Presently his daughter came in to entertain me, and did so, and I formed a better opinion of Mr Squier as the father of so nice and sensible a girl. At length Mr S came in a buggy, took me in, and drove me through the Park; showing me several smaller organic changes of the plan; injuring the design and evincing confusion. Mr S. did not seem to appreciate this; nor did I find that he had really any higher notion of his duty than to estimate, among conflicting notions, what would best please “the people,” and move accordingly. He showed no knowledge or interest in trees or landscape. I judged from talk of Kennedy and our relatives, more than anything else, that he had got a notion that to recall “Doctor Olmsted” would be popular. When we came back to his house, which is on the border of the Park, he sent for Kennedy and when he came in (he lives next door I think) I moved straight to business. Said we shd want $2000 a year; title, L.A. advisory, or Consulting L.A.; would agree to make 12 visits a year (This he probably understood to be an acceptance of his suggestion, of a visit of inspection and advice and a stated cabinet meeting on a fixed day once a month, we giving such time as was necessary for a general review & instructions the day before or day after); traveling expenses to be returned. (I did not [749]say all I meant to—nothing of pay of draughtsman, for example.) His Sunday dinner was about ready and I had engaged to lunch in N York, and did not want to dine with him, and thought it best policy to bring essential matters to a point & adjourn. He apparently had the same idea and at once began to talk as if everything were settled; saying to Kennedy before distinctly accepting the terms: “Now I can give this right out”; meaning, “I can tell the reporters that I have engaged Doctor Olmsted.” As soon as he said this: commitng himself to {our} engagement on our terms, I thought it best to quit. Said I must go; would have a draught of agreemt prepared, and to see him again after my return from the West, latter part of March. I invited him, when on his way to or from Portland, to go out from Boston and see you & the Office—He said that he might, but I do not think he will.

It will be a most difficult and unpleasant undertaking, requiring very wary and discreet policy, and probably involve us in public squabbling, that will be hateful. But we are to be paid our price and there is no question of our professional duty.

The next step is a written contract. I don’t know which of all we have best fits the circumstances. Boston comes nearest in some particulars, perhaps, as it refers primarily to work the general plans of which had been mainly determined. Take one which seems to you nearest to what we want; have it copied with carbon duplicate & send one to me to mull over, as I go on from Biltmore Westward. Think about and make a draft. I will try to do the same, and we will compare and conclude as soon as I get home. We shall need to proceed promptly then.

Comr Squier did make some remonstrating question in an indefinite way to my verbal stipulation about traveling expenses. It was a vague sort of growl, only expressive of dissatisfaction; as if he thought it might be a troublesome matter, but as he did not say that he would refuse it, I thought it best not to discuss the question. He & Kennedy said something about arranging for us to stay at a Brooklyn Club House. It was evident that they were a little mystified but as Squier did not clearly propose an alternative and did not refuse our proposition, I did not think best to force a conclusion.

Over

At present, the matter of terms is presumably, as we would have it, but I think it likely Mr Squier, may be inclined to bolt over traveling expenses and over pay of draughtsman when we submit our proposition in black and white. We must be sure to have in a guarded stipulation that he shall not set about anything in settlement of any question of design without giving us an opportunity to report upon it; so that if he decides adversely to us, we shall have technically relieved ourselves of responsibility.

The whole matter can be dallied along into April and we can make a more careful survey of the premises without snow on the ground and then make some sort of preliminary report, foreshowing what we shall be most urgent to have done before signing a contract; if we think best. He has it in view to [750]dissipate his money on statues and walls and the like; tangible additions under movement of White (McKim) & we cannot resist that but it will be policy to push landscape work especially sylvan, as fast as we can.

Have as many cuttings of {Euonymous} radicans vera, prepared as you can. It is wanted by the million in Brooklyn Park. French, or who ever did, last year, will attend to it. You can’t have too much and our bed will be the better for a clean cut down throughout. Also we shall want for Brooklyn a million of Rosa Wicheriana. Ask Fischer to prepare 1000; say that I requested it, and he will please keep account of the cost. You need not tell him how I propose to dispose of them.