Mount Auburn Cemetery

Aug 23 [186]5

P.H. Marett Esq New Haven, Ct.

My dear Sir,

I am sorry that I seem to have neglected you. I have been trying for three or four days past to find time to write you: before that, I was not prepared to do so.

The delay has been through my endeavor to learn from Mr Baldwin whether he would join you in the arrangement for keeping both lots in order. I wrote him at once, upon your request to know if the Com. would not accept $300: and I wrote by advice of the Com^ee. I waited long, but, Mr Baldwin did not reply. At last I thought he might be absent, & went to his house to inquire. Finding that he was not away from home (although out of the house, & I did not see him) I wrote another note reminding him of my former. He replied by mail that he did not care to enter into an arrangement at present for perpetual care. I then waited to see the Chairman of the Com^ee. This is the month when people are easy at business, and I did not see him until three or four days ago. I asked him if the Com^ee could approve of $300 independently of the arrangement for both lots, and rec^d a negative reply: that $350 is not too much in your case. In times when a paper dollar was worth a dollar in gold, no less than $300 would have been asked of you. I regret you have had to wait so long, but you perceive it has not been my neglect. -- I return you one of our forms of contract, in case you wish to carry through the arrangement at once, it will save you the trouble of visiting again before reading the contract. Sign it -- Enclose a draft payable to my order (the Treas^r is absent just now) & will acknowledge the rec^t of it, & get contract completed as soon as possible.

Very Resp.y yours

A.J. Coolidge Sec.y

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