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Old Corinth, 2 April 1934.
Dear Mr.McFadden:
Just before leaving Athens this morning I received your telegram sent last night from Ithaki saying that you expect to arrive at Athens the 7th or 8th. Since sending my telegram of March 20th -- "Expect [to be] ready [to] sail [for Cyprus] tenth April" -- I have found that I cannot be ready [to] sail [for Cyprus] tenth April for I cannot possibly finish the work I must do here so soon. I have therefore wired you, in care of the harbor-master at Ithaki, (hoping that if you have sailed, as I imagine likely, he will know your next port of call and send on the message), that I am obliged to stay here an extra fortnight and asking you to advise me of any change in your plans.
In view of the fact that I cannot be ready to sail so early as was expected it has occurred to me that you might perhaps modify your program in some way. For that reason I sek in my telegram to be informed of changes in your plans. A message addressed "Hill, palata Korinthos" should reach me without very great delay. I intend now to remain here until I hear from you or learn that you have reached Athens. Of course we should talk matters over as soon as possible after your arrival.
If you go to Athens by the way of the Canal and find it convenient to pick me up here I can join you at New Corinth or at either end of the canal. If I have notice the day beforehand. Or you might call at New Corinth and drive up here. I can be readily found and the cook at excavation house will be glad to have a guest at luncheon or dinner (or both) on very short notice. Digging is to be interrupted for a week beginning tomorrow.
20-209. In case you do not call here will you not as soon as you land in Piraeus, or Phaleron, let Mrs.Hill know of your arrival? She will notify me at once.
I have received no word from Cyprus about our permit beyond what I wrote you on March 2nd, but I presume that it has been signed by now, or will be very shortly, though the normal procedure is pretty slow.
I hope that you found everything right with the schooner and that you have had clearer weather for your voyage than we have been having here and in Athens. I have rarely seen so many rainy and overcast and hazy days in succession as in this last fortnight.
Sincerely yours.
Handwritten: (HILL)
65 figures hard to readstruck struck outadded written in above” jug ditto, and what it repeatsword reading not certain