"The five buildings, including the capital, are popularly estimated to cost 25 or 30 millions.
"I treated the matter very kindly, but deferred it. I shall continue to do that until I know enough about it to act wisely. If I change the manager it will not be for patronage (one $4000 office of an expert), but to a man in whom I can have a personal trust that he will not disgrace me.
"My information is that the Democrats of Elmira and the county deprecate nothing so much as a return of the odium they have once had to bear. I had no reason to suppose there was any special discontent until it appeared. The Speaker had informed me he had introduced a bill which would make all right.
"Since I have written so much more than I intended I will turn back and make it personal.
"Very truly, &c.
"I have omitted to mention several narrow escapes. The balance is still in favor of wariness, notwithstanding some friends get tremors."
JOHN KELLY TO TILDEN
"315 Lex. Avenue, New York, Feb. 27th, 1875.
"My dear Governor,—I regret that your kind intentions were so fruitless of effect. I am pleased, however, to find that the intended appointment of McLaughlin is generally approved. I am gratified, too, that Stemmler still is in the land of the living.
"I met your nephew, Mr. Pelton, at Marble's, as I presume he has so informed you, and there told him of Stemmler's death and advised a speedy appointment to fill the vacancy. My information was from the County Clerk's office; one of the principal clerks employed there gave me the information, and handed me at the same time the Daily News, which contained an account of the death of Stemmler. I enclose you herein a scrap cut from that paper, and one, too, referring to the matter afterwards.