WHEATLAND, 21st April, 1866. MY DEAR SIR,-I was happy to receive and peruse your favor of the 12th instant. I am glad to infer, from the mule ride of your daughter on the hot ashes of Mount Vesuvius, that she is in excellent health. May she continue healthy and happy for many, very many years! I am happy to learn your favorable opinion of my book, as well as that of Mr. Holt. As you have loaned your copy away so much, I shall embrace the first opportunity of presenting you another. . . . . With my kind regards to the members of your family, I remain Very respectfully, HON. HORATIO KING. Your friend, JAMES BUCHANAN. P. S.-[Referring to his last interview with Colonel Benton]. The Jacobs letter was, I know, published in the Constitution; but the copy he sent me is from another paper, perhaps the Intelligencer,—I know not. WHEATLAND, 23 June, 1866. MY DEAR SIR,-I am pleased to learn that you arrived safely at home the day you left us. You left very kind. remembrances of you behind. Indeed, the Sabbath when all the company were together was passed charmingly, but I fear not much to Christian edification. I have read your poem [" Employment Necessary to Happiness"]. There is much good sense in it and it is better than the common run of American poetry. Still, I think you were more distinguished as Assistant Postmaster-General and as the chief of the department than you will ever become as a poet. Notwithstanding, I read your poem with great pleasure and interest. I have not yet obtained a copy of the letter I promised to send you. It shall be forthcoming in good time. We have no news worth mentioning. The four ladies desire to be kindly and cordially remembered to you, and we all desire to see you again whenever this may meet your convenience. From your friend, Very respectfully, JAMES BUCHANAN. HON. HORATIO KING. WHEATLAND, 14 July, 1866. MY DEAR SIR,-I have received yours of the 9th instant, and now send you a copy of my Hayesville letter,* which I received this morning from the Daily Express (Republican) of Lancaster, in which it was published on the 2d October, 1861. "Old Blair," in his letter to the public of August 15, 1856, against my election, makes a point of my recommendation of General Cameron's bank at Middleton as a safe depository of a portion of the public money. This, he asserts, was made a short time before Mr. Polk's election in 1844, and during Mr. Tyler's administration, when the deposit bank system was, unfortunately, in full operation. I have not the least recollection of any such recommendation, but if it exists, as I suppose it does, then General Cameron, my neighbor, and at that time my political friend, must have called upon me for it, and I gave it as a matter of course. Should you be at the Treasury Department I should like * Letter addressed to Samuel A. Worth, Esq., expresses the "deep interest he feels in the present condition of our country." He says the war has become inevitable by the assault of the Confederate States upon Fort Sumter," and that until the Union is restored, “it will be our duty to support the President with all the men and means at the command of the country, in a vigorous and successful prosecution of the war." to have a copy of this letter, which Blair says was written in November, 1844; but I say in sincerity I care little for it, and do not give yourself much trouble about it. The three girls left me on yesterday morning, and the house is now quiet. I enjoyed their society very much. From your friend, HON. HORATIO KING. Very respectfully, JAMES BUCHANAN. WHEATLAND, 29th August, 1866. MY DEAR SIR,-Presuming that by this time you are in Oxford [Me.], I write you to that place to thank you for your kind letter of the 17th instant, and especially for the Portland Argus containing my Hayesville letter. I thank you for having caused it to be published. It is in perfect consistency with all I have written or said. The Democratic party of this State are now in high spirits, and feel much confidence that Clymer will be elected Governor. This will be rendered certain if even a moderate number of the Republicans should reinforce the Democratic army and sustain the President's policy. I do not like the progress to Chicago. I think it is illjudged. Mr. Seward can never obtain the confidence of the Democracy of this State, and the identification of the President with the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the doctrine of "Squatter Sovereignty," the two great measures of Mr. Douglas, will not add to his strength. Judge Black's powerful and conclusive reply to the "little giant" does not seem to have produced any effect on the President. I approve the proceedings of the Philadelphia Convention as far better than the programme of the Radicals. . . . Mrs. Johnston is now with me on a visit. She is in fine health and excellent spirits. I have had much agreeable company during the summer, and enjoy my usual health. I need not say that I shall always be happy to see you at Wheatland whenever you may be able to come. HON. HORATIO KING. From your friend, Very respectfully, JAMES BUCHANAN. WHEATLAND, 2d May, 1867. MY DEAR SIR,-I have received yours of the 29th ultimo, informing me of your intended departure for Europe. May you have a prosperous voyage and a happy and useful visit to the Old World. My best wishes will attend you wherever you may go. You will, of course, meet General Dix in Paris, from whom I have not heard for a long time. I believe you were present in Cabinet and heard his denunciation of when his name was mentioned in connection with the mission to Turin. How changed he must be, because he and his lady have since been on friendly and visiting terms with and his family. It is even reported that Miss Dix is to be married to- -'s son. The last is gossip; the first is true. I am rejoiced to learn that your pecuniary affairs are so prosperous. With my kindest regards to Annie Augusta, HON. HORATIO KING. Your friend, JAMES BUCHANAN. WHEATLAND, 1st February, 1868. MY DEAR SIR,-I have received your favor of the 28th ultimo, and cordially congratulate you on your return to your country after your European tour. It may be called a flying visit, considering the number of places visited. I have no doubt you enjoyed yourself very much and derived profit and improvement from it. The meeting with your daughter and your little grandchild must have been pecu liarly agreeable, and I trust that the trip may prove advantageous to Henry, who was doubtless delighted with it. My own health, thank God! is now good for a man of my age, and I live in tranquillity and contentment. I trust that on some occasion on your way to New Hampshire you may visit me and talk over events both foreign and domestic. Always your friend, HON. HORATIO KING. JAMES BUCHANAN. WHEATLAND, 7th Feb., 1868. MY DEAR SIR,-I have received yours of the 5th, and know not how I came to write you down as a New Hampshire man, for I was well aware you had been born in Maine. I am glad of the mistake, however, as it has caused you to send me the biographical sketch of yourself by Mr. Merriam. I have read it with much pleasure. It is well written, and it is no more than just to the subject of it. It omits the date of your birth. . I have no news to give you. Thank God! I am very well, and always remain, sincerely and respectfully, HON. HORATIO KING. "Your friend, JAMES BUCHANAN. CHAPTER II HON. ROBERT C. WINTHROP AND THE WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT. ROBERT C. WINTHROP was appointed by resolution of Congress as the orator on the occasion of the dedication of the Washington National Monument on the 22d of February, 1885, but, owing to a serious illness a few weeks prior to that time, he was not able to be present to deliver the grand oration he had prepared. |