Terrell to "Lewis", July 14, 1895

{on the top left, printed letterhead} Legation of the United States of America

{on the top right} Constantinople, July 14th, 1895

Dear Lewis,

I have just read with interest your letter of the 28th, and hasten to reply. I accept with pleasure your very kind proposition to extend my debt for a definite time, and enclose my note for the amount due to mature July 1^st 1896. It relieves me from a feeling of uncertainty, though I presume that I will ask you to let me liquidate it on my return next spring at least by June. The investment in archeological treasures need not disturb you. I have never contemplated doing more than to buy a few mementos of the Orient. If you will read Schlemans work (he wrote several) published I think in 78. you will find Mr. Frank Calvert often refered{sic} to. He owns the site of Acropolis of Troy, and owns the cabinet found by himself. You will also see him

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refered{sic} to as an authority in Archeology in "Encyclopedia Britannica", and this quiet unpretending man, has high reputation among Scholars in England. He owns the private collection I refered{sic} to, and his present financial trouble is a sufficient caution to me, were one needed, for he has been been digging in tombs + {carat and "th"? Unclear sign, perhaps "etc"?} all his life. He writes promising to send me two vases taken by himself from excavating Troy "cleaned or uncleaned" as I prefer. I choose{chose?} them with the incrustation of lime of the centuries on them, and will have the pleasure of seeing the figures come out when I remove it, at home, with a light solution of Muriatic Acid. The vases will be from the ruins of the Greek Illium constructed under the orders of Alexander the Great, and antedating the Greco-Roman era. I have a well preserved vase from pre-historic Troy, but no pottery of that period was ever painted or ornamented. So much for that.

I have no idea of selling my part of my land, so long as Mrs. Terrell lives, + will act as overseer.

{written in pencil perpendicular to the text along the upper left margin:}(Presented by A. W. Terrell to the University of Texas. Lilla Watkins Rector)

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I propose to be even with the world by June and you are right in saying that I cannot [.....] other investments. It has cost me much money, and if it will only rain, and let us have Old Time Texas back again, I may spend yet on my farm a quiet sun set. I had no idea of speculating in antiques - but do count it a burning shame that when Texas can supply her University with things, that no money can buy elsewhere, and for a small cost, that Calverts collection is not secured. It includes gold bracelets -- rings, ear rings + more 1200 BC. Columbia College N York is about to excavate in Crete -- they will find nothing perhaps older than the Mycen pottery, -- + here is a collection the oldest, + connected direct with Homeric Troy. Enough of that, it will go North.

I am glad that Lena enjoys her new life, I had hoped to send her a bridal present from the palace, + while waiting for it, neglected to send one for myself.

You don't tell me, how does any one, if you have moved back to town.

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There is a fine article by Prof. Max Müller of Oxford in "The Arena" an English monthly, on "The real significance of the Worlds Parliament of Religions" -- Dec{abbreviation sign} number. Send to "The Arena Publishing Co, Boston -- it contains several other fine articles. He sent me a number with his portrait as a frontispiece. You should write to Boston + get it.

Your state polatics{sic} has degenerated into a scramble between cliques presided over by small men, who are unable to plan for the prosperity of a free state. Our national polatics{sic} are so bad, that an effort to found a new party with honesty as a motto is the necessity of the hour; but the very suggestion of such a necessity shows how hopeless is our con = dition. For in a free country general corruption in high places, is only the natural fruit of a dieing{sic} republic. Look at the revelations of New York! and Parkhurst, now idolized in a spasm of returning Virtue, will soon be overwhelmed by the energy of the bad men he is exposing.

Cleveland stands for the right as he believes it, but, silver mines -- machinery -- the outs who want to get

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in and the Army of fools, and sugar trust thieves will defeat all his good purposes(?), and I fear make his administration a failure.

You speak of desiring to come here. You would never regret it. I long for the time when I can go away the islands of the Archipelago. I saw just enough of them to desire to spend three weeks among them. Crete Tenedos, Somathrace, Imbros, and the rest. No tourist goes among them, and I am told that in Crete the old Greek type of man, with its clasic{sic} beauty, may be seen as wrought by the chisel of Phydias. If you will put your house in order and return with me in June next, I would be delighted, and would do those islands with you as I return; instead of spending the 40 days in transit back home, allowed me, in looking at them as I had intended.

I dont think I can come back here without my wife. Life is so short, that it dont pay me to save just a few dollars at the expense