Typed Letter Signed ('James Bryce') from the historian and Liberal politician James Bryce, Viscount Bryce, to E. Byrne Hackett of Yale University Press, discussing the American Booksellers Association banquet.

1p., 4to. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Bryce writes that he has not forgotten Hackett's 'invitation to the American Booksellers Association's banquet' in New York, but that it is unlikely that he will be able to attend 'seems to be extremely small, so that I must ask you not to announce me as being present. I have to represent my country at an important international conference, which will be in session at that time and it seems extremely improbable that I shall be able to leave Washington for the two days necessary to attend the gathering.' He regrets the fact, as 'the interest of the occasion as the first national gathering of the whole bookselling trade of the United States is very great, and it would have been a real pleasure to me to meet the company present'. In original envelope, lacking stamp.