ALS signed "J.W. Riley," one page, 5x8", November 7, 1888. Handwritten letter to *John Eliot Bowen, in part: " I fear I will be unable to answer as you desire and as I earnestly wish to. My time now is taken about wholly by preparation for opening lecture season, else I would turn at once in the effort to please you with a Thanksgiving contribution. Will hope yet that some unlooked-for-time worthy of the task will be mine in which to serve you." In near fine condition with a bit of toning, several small pin holes to the upper edge, a small crease to the lower left corner and several tiny ink spots on the letter verso.
 
*The recipient of the letter is believed to be a fellow poet and author John Eliot Bowen, 1858-1890 a direct descendant, on his father's side, of the Apostle Eliot, whose name he bore. On his mother's side, he was a great grandnephew of Benjamin Franklin. He was on the Editorial Staff of the weekly New York magazine, "The Independent" founded by his father Henry Chandler Bowen.
 
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