Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1356

Carbon of a letter to Alexander Colin Campbell, Apartment 3, 24 Lisgar Street, Ottawa, Canada

February 22, 1941

 

 

 

Dear Mr. Campbell:

     I want to thank you very much, indeed, for your most kind and interesting letter of January 20th. I certainly look forward to visiting your Capitol City and renewing the pleasure of our happy acquaintance and conversation.

     I am so much pleased with some of the lines in your letter. I quote them back to you with my utmost acceptance and commendation:

“As I understand you, your proposal, if adopted, would make the exploitation of land a matter of business, competitive business. To an extreme individualist, ‘of whom I am one of which,’ that is a charming idea. I do not hold with those who say, ‘the less government the better.’ I think there is a natural field of government, and government should fill that field and wholly forget all others.”

     I note that your reply is only a tentative one which I take to mean that you are still continuing to focus your mind in the somewhat unusual direction to which I have been calling your attention.

     I have had some business in Montreal of late, but found it feasible to conduct it entirely by correspondence so that I am now unhappily uncertain as to how soon I can enjoy the hospitalities of your land of the maple leaf and the snow.

     As you are, doubtless, aware, Miss Margaret Bateman is now sojourning among us, and it gives me great pleasure to have some occasional contact and association with her.

     Miss Leighton joins me in my happy thoughts and recollections of you.

Sincerely yours,

SH:ML                     Spencer Heath