"The great question for me here of the success of our copper establishment is not yet decided. I had expected to find the works in operation. They will not be ready to begin short of a week or fortnight, and then there may be further delay from changes required in details of machinery. Everything is very encouraging. I have good prospects of a contract for rifles and artillery from this government—it is under consideration now. Could not do anything at present in France, though the plan was recognized as superior to their own or to anything known. But in the present state of Europe they could not introduce a change, their existing armament on their own plan being on so vast a scale. But I was encouraged for a later day.
"In regard to politics, I suppose the North will be too hot to hold me hereafter, if the papers are right in their account of the Northern feeling."
M. VAN BUREN TO MOSES S. TILDEN
"Lindenwald, May 13th, '61.
"Many thanks to you, my dear sir, for the compliment conveyed in your obliging letter.[34]
"But be assured that if the time ever arrives for the consideration of such a work there is another man in this State who could do it far more justice than I could hope for, and that is your brother Samuel. For myself, I shall for the rest of my life have but one thing to tinker on in that way, and how that will fare in these troublesome times is, I fear, very doubtful.
"Do me the favor to present me very kindly to your good sister and all the other members of your family, and to believe me, as ever,
Your friend,
"M. Van Buren."
MR. TILDEN'S WAR RECORD
His patriotic address to a regiment in 1861. Published in New York Tribune, November 3, 1874: