Very sincerely yours,
D. J. O’Connell.
Elmira, N. Y., January 7, 1909.
Hon. Thomas Z. Lee,
Secretary-General, etc.,
Providence, R. I.
My dear Judge Lee: I am just home from the Appellate Division of our Supreme Court at Albany, and have your kind invitation to attend the dinner of the American Irish Historical Society at Washington on the 16th inst. as the guest of the Society.
I very greatly appreciate the honor of this invitation and I have delayed answer for a day trying to arrange my engagements so that I could have the pleasure of meeting with the Society on that occasion, but I am very sorry to find that it will be impossible for me to reach Washington for the 16th. I cannot tell you how deeply I regret my enforced absence.
With kindest regards to yourself and the many members of the Society to whose hospitality I am so indebted, and with cordial thanks for the honor of the invitation believe me,
Faithfully yours,