100 HISTORY OF THE 



Treinoiit House, | 

 Boston, Dec. 29, 1886. ( 

 Messrs. Benjamin Dean, 



PaTHICK MAGUIliE, 



John F. Andrew, 



Park Commissioners. 



Gentlemen: — Now lluit you (rej^resenting the city 

 of Boston) have obtained legal possession and control 

 of my estates, which I regard as of great picturesque 

 beauty and vaUie, the loss of which having become such 

 a trial to me, I thought it best to make, through your 

 commission, to tlie city of Boston, a bona fide offer for 

 these estates. To wit: For Newstead, VI 1-1 cents a 

 foot; Monteglade, 10 1-2 cents, or nearly $05,000 more 

 than the verdict, in order to regain legal possession and 

 conti'ol of them. 



This downriglit offer will convince you how much I 

 regi'et to have my j)roperty wrenched from me against 

 my will for luxurious purposes, and how severely I con- 

 demn the exercise of Ihat arbitrary power, the right of 

 eminent domain, that authorized the seizure when the 

 property had been undervalued. 



Kesistance being useless, I therefoi'c try this method 

 to recover the legal title to my estates; and as the city 

 treasury is now laboi'ing under a heavy weight of debt, 

 in the face of a restricted right of borrowing, limited to 

 only 2 per cent, on the tax valuation, and as the city 

 can not afford the luxury of expensive parks for its citi- 

 zens, I presume yon will be glad to accept at once this 

 generous proposition, and thns reduce your obligations. 

 Respectfully yours, 



Samuel E. Saavyer. 



