It is followed by extracts from affidavits made by the gentleman who conducted the negotiations on behalf of Mrs.Backus.I have no wish to reprint the complimentary allusion to myself in Mr.Backus's letter, but have feared to omit a word of it lest some misunderstanding ensue: BOWLING GREEN, OHIO, September 18, '03.
MR.

JOHN D.ROCKEFELLER, Cleveland, Ohio.
I do not know whether you will ever receive this letter or not, whether your secretary will throw it into the waste-basket or not, but I will do my part and get it off my mind, and it will not be my fault if you do not receive or read it.

Ever since the day that my deceased brother's wife, Mrs.F.N.Backus, wrote you the unjust and unreasonable letter in reference to the sale of the property of the old Backus Oil Company, in which I had a small interest, I have wanted to write you and record my disapproval of that letter.

I lived with my brother's family, was at the house the day you called to talk the matter of the then proposed purchase of the property with Mrs.Backus by her request, as she told Mr.Jennings that she wanted to deal through you.

I was in favour of the sale from the first.
I was with Mrs.Backus all through the trouble with Mr.Rose and with Mr.Maloney, did what I could to encourage her, and to prevent Mr.Rose from getting the best of her.