"Dear Mrs. Lowell,—I have received your note containing some account of the subscriptions for the Charity Organization Society.
"Herewith is the speech which I promised to send.
"My subscription, which was to be paid after the beginning of the New Year, will be ready whenever you may come, in person, to collect it. Since almost seven years elapsed without my having the pleasure to see you, I do not like to throw away this occasion.
"Very truly yours,
"S. J. Tilden.
"Mrs. J. S. Lowell."
TILDEN TO CHARLES A. DANA
"Yonkers, N. Y., January 2, 1883.
"Dear Mr. Dana,—I reciprocate your good wishes for the New Year for both yourself and Mrs. Dana.
"I fear there is some danger that the unsettling of the established system in regard to the canals may lead to projects for enlargements which will be of no real utility, but mere pretences for a renewal of abuses.
"I send herewith a copy of my speech on the canals in the convention of 1867, which, I think, you once expressed a wish to see; and also a copy of my first Message which contains a passage on the same subject.[27]