Lengthy ALS signed “Bill,” five pages on three sheets. 5” x 8”, July 15, 1902. Letter to “My dear Kelse,” written from Rome during a visit to Italy. In part: “I had no chance to say goodbye to you….I wanted to express to you my deep sense of obligation to you and Bill Gilbert for that dinner at the Yale Club. Nothing in my life has touched me more….My visit to Rome has not been as successful as I hoped. We struck the rock of the Religious Orders who are powerful here and found that while the Church is very anxious to make an agreement it will not say anything in writing….Our stay in Rome has been very full of interest. We have glimpsed behind the scenes in the Nation & we have enjoyed something of Roman society both white (Royal) and black (Papal)….I sail for Manila either from Genoa on the 23rd or Naples on the 24th….Mrs. Taft and the children will sail from Genoa on Sept. 3rd….I was a good deal discouraged about the political outlook when I was in Washington but things have so shaped themselves now that even if the House goes Democratic….it will not be significant….The truth is that the Democrats in the Senate seem to have over done….their attacks on the Philippines policy and on the army….The coal strike is uncomfortable but it does not seem to have great popular support.” In fine condition.