"Permit me to acknowledge the reception of your letter of the 14th inst.
"I cannot, at present, give your proposal [I believe I said
_proposition_, but proposal must be the right word] sufficient
consideration to reply to it, but I will do so as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, may I ask you to send me my accounts for the last six
months? I suppose they can be made up independently of the question at
issue between us.
"I most emphatically agree with you in the opinion that no occasion for
arbitration need ever have arisen."