Wishing you a very delightful trip and a good time at the convention, I remain,
Yours very truly,
Willis B. Dowd.
Salem, Mass., January 14, 1909.
Hon. Thomas Z. Lee, Secretary-General of the American Irish Historical Society, Providence, R. I.
My dear Sir: The Mayor has been sick since Friday of last week, and although he is now out of bed the doctor positively forbids him to make a trip to Washington. He sent a message to me requesting me to notify you of this fact and to express to you his deep regret. I know he was looking forward with very pleasant anticipation to this trip and to his meeting with you again.
I find in the mail two tickets to the banquet and not appreciating the situation fully I am enclosing them to you, thinking that you may be able to make some use of them as long as the Mayor can not go, but if these are sent out and charged to the persons to whom they are sent, you will please advise the Mayor and he will send you the cost of the same.
Yours very respectfully,
Jos. B. Saunders,
Secretary to the Mayor.