"DEAR MR. DANA,--I could not but feel much gratified at the interest in my career manifested in your note of the 18th inst.
"It will afford me pleasure to collect such materials for your purpose as I can procure. It may be necessary to have a personal interview to define more exactly what you desire. That will be an occasion for an additional pleasure.
"In the mean time, with assurances of my regards and esteem, I remain,
"DEAR MR. TILDEN,--What I wish is to enlarge my studies of the politics of the last fifty years by going over it all in your relations to it, and in its relations to you.
"Perhaps the best beginning would be made if you could lend me your printed letters, speeches, reports, messages--in short, your published documents of whatever nature and character. I would keep them in my safe and only take out one at a time, so that they would be very little exposed to accident.
"When I have thoroughly studied these papers a great deal will have been accomplished, and I shall then be ready for the next step. My ultimate purpose is to put myself in a situation to write the political history of this half-century between 1835 and 1885.
"It seems to me that in our day there have been three statesmen who have had the genius to rule men through their intellects. I mean Bismarck, Disraeli, and Tilden.
"HON. S. J. TILDEN, GREYSTONE, YONKERS, N. Y.
"MY DEAR GOVR.,--I found, in talking with Manning yesterday, that Govr. C. [Cleveland] had offered to go down and see you about his letter, and had, through M., asked you to name a day, and was anxiously waiting for you to do so.
"I thought I would write you by the very first mail, as I thought that you did not understand it as they do. The Govr. is expecting to come into this country on the 7th or 8th and wants his letter issued before. I write in haste. I did not see Govr. Cleveland, but learned the above from Mr. Manning.
"STATE OF NEW YORK, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, "ALBANY, _Aug. 1, 1884_.
"DEAR SIR,--I am directed by Governor Cleveland to say that, if agreeable to you, he would be glad to call on you at Greystone in company with Mr. Manning on Tuesday next, the 5th instant.
"He takes the liberty of naming the day, because he has engagements which compel his presence here every other day previous to his departure for the woods.