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Hotel Windsor, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., June 8, 1903. Dear Louie, Wanda, Helen, We arrived in London Saturday
at midnight. Yesterday we walked through St.James and Hyde Parks. They are full of fine trees and have many magnificent spacious
lawns and far-reaching vistas leafy and flowery,suggesting pure wildness rather than the heart of the biggest city in the
world. In the afternoon we went to Kew and enjoyed the grand trees and shrubs, especially the Rhododendrons most of which
are in full bloom. We called on Sir Joseph Hooper's daughter Lady Dyer. Were sorry to learn that Sir Joseph is too ill to
be seen. This morning young Sargent and I went to Westminster Abbey, a world in itself. Prof. Sargent is at Baring Bros. Co.
for letters, money, etc., and to see about passports, which, strange to say, are missing. In a few days we intend going to
Holland, thence to Paris, etc. I'll be glad when the wild forests, plains, and mountains are reached. I'm hoping to get a
letter from you when Sargent returns, so I'll not close now . We are all well. 9:30 P.M. - about 3 P.M. your time. Sargent
found lots of letters for himself but none for me at Baring Bros. Co. He also made arrangements at the Embassy for new passports,
all three having been stolen on the steamer, the President's letter doing us good service in our trouble. This afternoon
we went to the famous Lady Wallace Gallery of paintings, etc., wnich we all enjoyed very much -- a wonderful collection of
old masterpieces, armor, furniture, etc. We will probably leave for Holland Thursday, visit the Hague, Amsterdam gardens,
galleries, etc. for 5 or 6 days; then start for Paris, where I suppose 4 or 5 or more days will be spent before we get fairly
on our way for Russia. From Moscow we intend to make a side trip to the Caucasus by way or the Crimea, Tiflis, and Baku, which
will take perhaps two weeks before we get fairly on our way across Siberia to Pekin. I'm not yet quite sure whether I can
visit Scotland, on account of this wretched passport business. They were all stolen from Sargent's satchel. Love to you all.
I suppose my darlings will be coming to these old historic places and works some of these days. Write often, however briefly.
JOHN MUIR