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in public matters, no act of yours has ever been successfully assailed as being selfish or malicious, and no suggestion even of anything except the most absolute honesty of purpose has ever been made in regard to any of your personal or official acts. I know the affairs of Pennsylvania fairly well,—I could not help having this knowledge from my long connection with the state government. I have been a pretty thorough student of Pennsylvania history, and I feel that I am entirely within the bounds of fact when I say that more has been accomplished in general progress in the line of great constructive improvement, as well as in the bettering of conditions of government, during your administration than in any two equal periods in the career of the commonwealth. A great deal of this has come from suggestions made by yourself, and much of the rest has been the result of the encouragement given by you to those whose ambitions for Pennsylvania found a ready response in your co-operation.

Now that you have retired from office you will find that those who have criticised some of the details of your work will give you credit for the great essential things which have been accomplished by you and your associates, and that the trifling matters which have been assailed will be forgotten in the general appreciation of the great progress that has been made under your leadership.

And on the personal side you have made a legion of friends and won a host of admirers. To me it has been a great pleasure and privilege to have been associated with you and to have known you well, and I want to thank you for all the kindnesses you have shown me and to extend to you my hearty good wishes and the hope that your life will be contented and prosperous and that your lines may be cast in pleasant places.

With kindest personal regards, and trusting that I may soon see you, I am,Very cordially your friend, .

February 16th, 1907.

I am just in receipt of your letter, and am going to still further trespass on your kindness. Mr. Hayden writes me that he has sent the Gazette file (with his library) to Mr. Henkels at 1112 Walnut Street, for sale. If it will not inconvenience you, will you, the next time you are in the city, visit Mr. Henkels' place and purchase the file for me, using your own judgment as to the price? If any error is made, I would rather it was on the side of Rh