Dear Arthur:

First of all, these three years have made me tired. I suppose
there's no doubt about that, if there were any scientific way of
measuring it. While of course the strain now is nothing like what
it was during the days of neutrality, there's yet some strain.

I went down to Plymouth to make a speech on the anniversary of the
beginning of the war--went to tell them in the west of England
something about relations with the United States and something
about what the United States is doing in the war. It turned out to
be a great success. The Mayor met me at the train; there was a
military company, the Star Spangled Banner and real American
applause. All the way through the town the streets were lined with
all the inhabitants and more--apparently millions of 'em. They made
the most of it for five solid days.

On the morning of August 4th the Mayor gave me an official
luncheon. Thence we went to the esplanade facing the sea, where
soldiers and sailors were lined up for half a mile. The American
Flag was flung loose, the Star Spangled Banner broke forth from the
band, and all the people in that part of the world were there
gathered to see the show. After all this salute the Mayor took me
to the stand and he and I made speeches, and the background was a
group of dozens of admirals and generals and many smaller fry. Then
I reviewed the troops; then they marched by me and in an hour or
two the show was over.

Then the bowling club--the same club and the same green as when
Drake left the game to sail out to meet the Armada.

Then a solemn service in the big church, where the prayers were
written and the hymns selected with reference to our part in the
war.

Then, of course, a dinner party. At eight o'clock at night, the
Guildhall, an enormous town hall, was packed with people and I made
my speech at 'em. A copy (somewhat less good than the version I
gave them) goes to you, along with a leader from the _Times_. They
were vociferously grateful for any assuring word about the United
States. It's strange how very little the provincial Englander knows
about what we have done and mean to do. They took the speech
finely, and I have had good letters about it from all sorts of
people in every part of the Kingdom.

Then followed five