experience I have had in that matter. Very bitter, I assure you. Among other things, I still owe nearly all of the $25,000 which I delivered to Mr. Pratt, and this is most harassing and embarrassing to me.

If you will give me the $76,500 of bonds which I propose to throw off as payment of the notes which you say I owe you, I will gladly get your ten-thousand-dollar letter of credit; but if I release those bonds to you, as I propose, you can do the same for yourself.

I am at loss to know what you mean by your repeated phrase that "I have denied everything." What have I denied? I do not so much as understand what you mean, and would be glad to have you explain.

You reject the name of Ward Cheney as a friendly referee. Please suggest a name yourself of some one known to both of us. I mean for you to suggest a name in case you do not accept my basis of settlement proposed in my last letter preceding this. Yours, very truly, J. G. BLAINE.

WARREN FISHER, JR., Esq.

When do you propose to sail for Europe?

V.

WASHINGTON, D. C., April 22, 1872. MY DEAR MR. FISHER: Your brief note received. I do not know what you mean by my "not mentioning Northern Pacific and denying everything else."

You have my obligation to deliver to you a specified interest in Northern Pacific, which I was to purchase for you, and in which I never had a penny's interest-direct or indirect. Some months ago you wrote me (twice) declaring that you would not receive the share, but demanding the return of the money. This was impossible, and I therefore could do nothing but wait.

Nothing I could write would make my obligation plainer than the memorandum you hold. Nothing you could write would change my obligation under that memorandum.

The matters between us are all perfectly plain and simple, and I am ready to settle them all comprehensively and liberally. I am not willing to settle those that benefit you and leave to the chances of the future those that benefit me.

I am willing to forego and give up a great deal for the sake of a friendly settlement, and I retain a copy of this letter as evidence of the spirit of the offer I make. I think, if we cannot settle ourselves, a friendly reference would be the best channel, and I propose Mr. Ward Cheney, who stands nearer to you certainly than he does to me. If this name does not suit you, please suggest one yourself.

Very sincerely yours,

WARREN FISHER, JR.

J. G. BLAINE.

VI.

WASHINGTON, May 26, 1864.

MY DEAR SIR: Your favor received. I am very glad, all things considered, that the Government has accepted your proposition to take all your manufacture till first of September, 1865. It gives a straight and steady business for the com pany for a good stretch of time.

In regard to the tax provision you can judge for yourself, as I send herewith a copy of the bill as reported from the Finance Committee of the Senate and now pending in that body-see pages 148, 149, where I have marked. In looking over

the bill you will please observe that all words in italic letters are amendments proposed by the Senate Finance Committee, while all words included in brackets are proposed to be struck out by same committee.

The provision which you inquire about was not in the original bill, but was an amendment moved from the Ways and Means Committee by Mr. Kasson, of Iowa, to whom I suggested it. It is just and proper in every sense, and will affect a good many interests, including your company. I am glad to hear such good accounts of your progress in the affairs of the company, of which I have always been proud to be a member.

Tell Mr. Welles that his brother has been nominated by the Senate for commissary of subsistence, with rank of captain. He will undoubtedly be confirmed as soon as his case can be reached. I will advise as soon as it is done.

In haste, yours truly,

WARREN FISHER, JR., Esq.

VII.

J. G. BLAINE.

WASHINGTON, D. C., April 18, 1872. MY DEAR MR. FISHER: I answered you very hastily last evening, as you said you wished an immediate reply; and perhaps in my hurry I did not make myself fully understood.

You have been for some time laboring under a totally erroneous impression in regard to my results in the Fort Smith matter. The sales of bonds which you spoke of my making, and which you seem to have thought were for my own benefit, were entirely otherwise. I did not have the money in my possession fortyeight hours, but paid it over directly to the parties whom I tried, by every means in my power to protect from loss. I am very sure that you have little idea of the labors, the losses, the efforts, and the sacrifices I have made within the past year to save those innocent persons, who invested on my request, from personal loss.

And I say to you to-night, solemnly, that I am immeasurably worse off than if I had never touched the Fort Smith matter.

The demand you make upon me now is one which I am entirely unable to comply with. I cannot do it. It is not in my power. You say that "necessity knows no law." That applies to me as well as to you, and when I have reached the point I am now at, I simply fall back on that law. You are as well aware as I am that the bonds are due me under the contract. Could I have these I could adjust many matters not now in my power, and so long as this and other matters remain unadjusted between us, I do not recognize the equity or the lawfulness of your calling on me for a partial settlement. I am ready at any moment to make a full, fair, comprehensive settlement with you on the most liberal terms. I will not be exacting or captious or critical, but am ready and eager to make a broad and generous adjustment with you, and if we can't agree ourselves, we can select a mutual friend who can easily compromise all points of difference between us.

You will, I trust, see that I am disposed to meet you in a spirit of friendly cordiality, and yet with a sense of self-defense that impels me to be frank and expose to you my pecuniary weakness.

With very kind regards to Mrs. Fisher, I am, yours truly,

W. FISHER, JR., Esq

J. G. BLAINE,

VIII.

[Personal.]

AUGUSTA, MAINE, October 4, 1869.

MY DEAR SIR: I spoke to you a short time ago about a point of interest to your railroad company that occurred at the last session of Congress.

It was on the last night of the session when the bill renewing the land grant to the State of Arkansas for the Little Rock road was reached, and Julian, of Indiana, Chairman of the Public Lands Committee, and, by right, entitled to the floor, attempted to put on the bill, as an amendment, the Fremont El Paso scheme,―a scheme probably well known to Mr. Caldwell. The House was thin, and the lobby in the Fremont interest had the thing all set up, and Julian's amendment was likely to prevail if brought to a vote. Roots and the other members from Arkansas, who were doing their best for their own bill (to which there seemed to be no objection), were in despair, for it was well known that the Senate was hostile to the Fremont scheme, and if the Arkansas bill had gone back to the Senate with Julian's amendment, the whole thing would have gone on the table and slept the sleep of death.

In this dilemma Roots came over to me to know what on earth he could do under the rules; for he said it was vital to his constituents that the bill should pass. I told him that Julian's amendment was entirely out of order, because not germane; but he had not sufficient confidence in his knowledge of the rules to make the point, but he said General Logan was opposed to the Fremont scheme, and would probably make the point. I sent my page to General Logan with the suggestion, and he at once made the point. I could not do otherwise than sustain it; and so the bill was freed from the mischievous amendment moved by Julian, and at once passed without objection.

At that time I had never seen Mr. Caldwell, but you can tell him that, without knowing it, I did him a great favor.

Sincerely yours,

W. FISHER, JR., Esq., 24 India Street, Boston.

J. G. BLAINE.

IX.

AUGUSTA, October 4, 1869.

MY DEAR MR. FISHER: Find inclosed contracts of the parties named in my letter of yesterday. The remaining contracts will be completed as rapidly as circumstances will permit.

I enclose you a part of the Congressional Globe of April 9, containing the point to which I referred at some length in my previous letter of to-day. You will find it of interest to read it over and see what a narrow escape your bill made on that last night of the session. Of course it was my plain duty to make the ruling when the point was once raised. If the Arkansas men had not, however, happened to come to me when at their wits' end and in despair, the bill would undoubtedly have been lost, or at least postponed for a year. I thought the point would interest both you and Caldwell, though occurring before either of you engaged in the enterprise.

I beg you to understand that I thoroughly appreciate the courtesy with which you have treated me in this railroad matter; but your conduct towards me in business matters has always been marked by unbounded liberality in past years,

You urge

and, of course, I have naturally come to expect the same of you now. me to make as much as I fairly can out of the arrangement into which we have entered. It is natural that I should do my utmost to this end. I am bothered only by one thing, and that is definite and expressed arrangement with Mr. Caldwell. I am anxious to acquire the interest he has promised me, but I do not get a definite understanding with him as I have with you.

I shall be in Boston in a few days, and shall then have an opportunity to talk the matter over fully with you. I am disposed to think that whatever I do with Mr. Caldwell must really be done through you.

MY DEAR MR. FISHER: You ask me if I am satisfied with the offer you make me of a share in your new railroad enterprise.

Of course I am more than satisfied with the terms of the offer. I think it a most liberal proposition.

If I hesitate at all, it is from considerations no way connected with the character of the offer. Your liberal mode of dealing with me in all our business transactions of the past eight years has not passed without my full appreciation. What I wrote you on the 29th was intended to bring Caldwell to a definite proposition. That was all.

I go to Boston by same train that carries this letter, and will call at your office to-morrow at twelve м. If you don't happen to be in, no matter. Don't put yourself to any trouble about it.

W. FISHER, Jr.

XI.

Yours,

J. G. B.

AUGUSTA, June 29, 1869.

MY DEAR MR. FISHER: I thank you for the article from Mr. Lewis. It is good in itself and will do good. He writes like a man of large intelligence and comprehension.

Your offer to admit me to a participation in the new railroad enterprise is in every respect as generous as I could expect or desire. I thank you very sincerely for it, and in this connection I wish to make a suggestion of a somewhat selfish character. It is this: You spoke of Mr. Caldwell disposing of a share of his interest to me. If he really designs to do so, I wish he would make the proposition definite, so that I could know just what to depend on. Perhaps if he waits till the full development of the enterprise he might grow reluctant to part with the share; and I do not by this mean any distrust of him.

I do not feel that I shall prove a dead-head in the enterprise if I once embark in it. I see various channels in which I know I can be useful.

Very hastily and sincerely, your friend,

J. G. BLAINE.

Mr. FISHER,

India street, Boston.

XII.

WASHINGTON, May 14, 1870. MY DEAR MR. FISHER: I think, on the whole, I had better not insist on the $40,000 additional bonds at same rate. My engagement was not absolute, and I can back out of it with honor. I would rather do this than seem to be exacting or indelicate.

Besides, I have always felt that Mr. Caldwell manifested the most gentlemanly spirit toward me, and designed to treat me handsomely in the end. On the whole, therefore, I shall be better off perhaps to let things remain as they are. But I will follow your judgment in this matter if I can find what it is.

Very hastily,

J. G. BLAINE.

W. FISHER, ESQ.

XIII.

AUGUSTA, October 1, 1871.

MY DEAR MR. FISHER: I am doing all in my power to expedite and hasten the delivery of that stock. The delay has been occasioned by circumstances wholly beyond my control. But I shall reach a conclusion within a few days and make the formal delivery then. It will be an immense relief to get it off my hands, I assure you; far greater than it will be for you to receive it.

You must have strangely misunderstood Mr. Caldwell in regard to his paying those notes. He has paid me in all just $6,000, leaving $19,000 due, which I am carrying here at 8 and 8% per cent. interest, and which embarrasses me beyond all imagination. I do not really know which way to turn for relief, I am so pressed and hampered. The Little Rock and Fort Smith matter has been a sore experience to me, and if you and Mr. Caldwell between you cannot pay me the $19,000 of borrowed money, I don't know what I shall do. Politically I am charged with being a wealthy man. Personally and pecuniarily I am laboring under the most fearful embarrassments, and the greatest of all these embarrassments is the $19,000 which I handed over under your orders, and not one dollar of which I have received. Of the $25,000 original debt, Mr. Caldwell has paid $6,000, and $6,000 only. Can you not give me some hope of relief in this matter? It is cruel beyond measure to leave me so exposed and so suffering.

You know my profound regard for you and my faith in you. We have been friends too long and too intimately to allow a shade between us now.

MY DEAR MR. FISHER: You must have strangely misunderstood Mr. Caldwell's statement in regard to his paying me all but $2,500 of the $25,000 borrowed money which I loaned the company through him and you last January. Mr. Caldwell paid me in June $3,500, and in July $2,500 more, accepting at same time a draft for $2,500, July 10, ten days, which draft remains unpaid. I have, therefore, received but $6,000 from Mr. Caldwell, leaving $19,000 (besides interest) due me to-day.

For this $19,000 I am individually held, and, considering all the circumstances, I think you and Mr. Caldwell should regard it as an honorary debt, and you should not allow me to suffer for money which I raised under the peculiar circumstances