HON. MARSHALL P. WILDER. 93 



long as a fine pear is relished or a brilliant bouquet 

 admired. 



I regret that it will not be in my power to be with 

 you and with him on the 2 2d inst, and can only beg 

 you to offer him my hearty congratulations on the 

 occasion. 



Believe me, dear sir, respectfully and truly yours, 



Robert C. Winthrop. 



C. H. B. Breck, Esq. 



Letter of his Excellency, Benjamin F. Butler, Governor of 

 Massachusetts. 



Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 

 Executive Department, 



Boston, Sept. 15, 1883. 



Dear Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledsfe 

 your courteous invitation to attend a dinner on the 

 occasion of the remembrance of the eighty-fifth 

 birthday of the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder. 



How deeply I regret that I cannot be present, you 

 will see from the fact — 



First, that he is a citizen of New Hampshire; 

 that he, with myself, came to Massachusetts from 

 New Hampshire, and we New Hampshire men are 

 somewhat clannish. 



Second, from my admiration for his long and use- 

 ful life ; for the labors to which we owe very many 



