I have just returned from Chicago and find your letter of the 8th, to which my son, as he did not send it to me, probably replied. But as I find no record of the reply, in his absence I will say that brief biographies are to be found in both Appleton’s and Johnston’s Cyclopedias. I have not the latest edition of Appleton here, but presume that it contains some reference, not in the first edition, to what I suppose, from a historical point of view, is the most important circumstance of my life—the organization of the executive service of the Sanitary Commission of the War of the Rebellion. If not, Stille’s “History of the U.S. Sanitary Commission” would give sufficient information for your purpose on that point. Something will be found also in a little History of the Origin of the Union League Club, by Dr. Bellows. Both books will be found, I presume, in the Library of the Union League Club, or in the Aster Library.

I will remember what you wish of Mr. Vanderbilt.

Yours Truly

I have received your letter of the 21st on returning from Chicago. I had heard nothing before of the Sweeney project. At first sight, it strikes me [200]as having many advantages. But I do not see, if, upon reflection, no serious objections should appear, that I could have anything to do with it publicly, as you suggest. First, it is Vaux’s affair officially and you know I am most averse to do anything that can be suspected to imply a willingness to be brought in the slightest degree into rivalry with him. The more so that Green has been anxious to produce the impression that I am so; second, Sweeney has sought in a mean and tricky way to get the better of me and to humiliate me; third, he is officially responsible for the perfectly ignorant, impudent, and absolutely barbarous treatment of the Central Park. I have not the slightest feeling of resentment and am quite ready to think that all that I refer to is the result of accident, pressure of business, lack of reflection and so on, and I am ready to take your view of his character, but I can but feel that it will, to say the least, be in bad taste for me to volunteer any public assistance to advance a project of public improvements of which he is the author.

Always Cordially Yours