TILDEN TO GOVERNOR HOADLY
"Confidential.
"Greystone, December 5, 1884.
"Dear Governor Hoadley,—The present is the earliest opportunity I have had to acknowledge your letter.
"I notice that you mention that there are some things fitter to be discussed in personal interview than by letter.
"You will not doubt my high estimate of your abilities and your character, or of the strong personal regard I feel for you.
"I do not know to what extent or in what cases, if any, I shall be consulted by Mr. Cleveland in respect to the constitution of his cabinet. I do not intend to intrude upon him any advice unasked, or to volunteer any recommendations or requests.
"If consulted I shall not act as a partisan of any of my numerous friends who would like to enter his cabinet, but shall endeavor, with judicial impartiality, to canvass the personal merits and other considerations which ought to influence the choice.
"I am anxious that he should do the best thing possible for the country and for his administration, and shall desire rather to help him in his official task than to add to his embarrassments.
"The formation of a cabinet is a piece of mosaic in which each element may be affected by the size, texture, and color of the others entering into the combination; and it is impossible to foresee how much an individual element may be affected by the cast of the whole.
"In the event that you should be wanted for some other post than the one you prefer, do you mean to say that you have an invincible repugnance to every other post, even though not inferior in dignity or importance?
"Very truly yours,
"S. J. Tilden."