I beg your pardon in advance, if I am offending, but it seems a pity that this Swiss mission should go to anybody but Mr. Howells, who is so well fitted for it, & whose candidacy has but one flaw, the high respectability of his relationships.

I cannot help thinking that if you & Mr. Lowell, Mr. Whittier, & Mr. Holmes would sign a joint note to the President suggesting the appointment of Mr. Howells, he would be much more than likely to consent.

I hope you will pardon me for intruding this, Mr. Longfellow, since I could not think of any of any other plan that promised so well. With great respect