| Description | 11 Jan 1896
2 Holland Park Road, Kensington
Dear Douglas [Johnson/Fowler?]
Pray convey to your committee my sincere thanks for their kind congratulations on my elevation to the Peerage and my sense of the honour they do to me in desiring that I should on this occasion occupy once again the Chair at your Annual Banquet; which, to my great regret, I am unavoidably prevented from obeying their wish I explained to you only yesterday. Unfortunately my tenacious and wretched ailment still declines to yield to treatment and it is absolutely enjoined on me to abstain for a long time, a year at least, from all such execution of fatigue as is involved in 'speaking' of all things the most trying and risky in my condition. One exception I must of course make if anyway able to do so - my own official reception at Burlington House - but if, as I cannot hope, I am able pull thro' it I shall immediately seek entire rest and recuperation away from London and its season. Pray explain all this to your committee and beg their indulgence with
Yours sincerely always
Fred Leighton
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