Consound it, what a disappointment it was! We waited at the hotel till the last moment, & then found, when we got to the theatre, that you had been there. Well—better luck next time. We all did so long for one more glimpse of the dearest little Koto that’s in the world. But we look to see you both here for a good square liberal visit in May.

I shall see Howells next Wednesday, & ask him about your article. The papers say he is going to Switzerland as our m Minister. I hope it is true. Winny’s health is getting mighty bad & that country would set her build her up.

A day or two after you left here, I took the liberty to write a long letter (ostensibly) to John Hay (ostensibly) but really for General Garfield’s eye, suggesting you for the Japanese mission——but I said I was doing it of my own motion & without your knowledge or consent.

I said I believed General Grant would like back the suggestion; & that if Hay would say the word I would go down to New York & tackle the warrior.

Of course I haven’t heard from Hay yet—& shan’t till he hears from Garfield. But in New York, day before yesterday, I concluded to tackle the warrior without waiting. So I called on him, & said—

“General, I have come to ask if you don’t think it would be a good thing to suggest that the new administration to have Mr. House’s official services in Japan? Now, I think—”

“But you are too late. I have already written General Garfield, last night, suggesting that he appoint Mr. House to the Consul Generalship in Japan. I took that notion myself; without canvassing it w & sent for Mr. House yesterday evening to talk with him about it; but he was already gone; so I wrote Garfield anyhow.”

I said I was glad, & that doubtless his idea was the correct one; though what I had had in my mind was the post of Minister. He said you are the most competent man in the country for Minister, but that the objection would be raised that you had been ten years away from home. He also said it would be against precedent to appoint a man th to that sort of a place who had been so long absent. He went on to say that at a time like this, the Consul-Generalship is in of infinitely more importance, both for us & for Japan than t the other office; & that you could swing a much greater force toward the building up of our commerce in the former post than in the latter; & that he hoped to have a Minister appointed who would work hand-in-glove with you, & be a help & not a hindrance——which could be accomplished without offense to Mr. Bingham by making him Minister to Vienna (I am pretty sure he said Vienna.)

From another quarter (to be entirely depended upon) I learned two things: 1. Who General Grant’s nominee for the Japanese Ministry will be; & 2—that Garfield, of his own motion, told General Grant to name the representatives to Japan & China, & he would appoint them.

These two things were told me in strict confidence—no, not that exactly, but I was not told I could mention them. I do not feel free to name the General’s appointee for the Ministry, but I judge you know already. I doubt if I am telling you any news; but no matter, it makes something to write about.

I couldn’t G get General Grant to promise to write that book; but he sat down & spun out a lot of secret national history that would make a stunning chapter; says he does want to write that out before it gets too dim in his memory.

With our loves to you & Koto