"I am, very sincerely yours,
"Geo. Bancroft.
"Pray recall me to the kind recollection of your nieces, whom I had great pleasure in meeting a few weeks ago."
TILDEN TO HIRAM SIBLEY
"Greystone, Feb. 27, 1886.
"Dear Mr. Sibley,—I have received your interesting letter. The newspapers are correct in saying that the 9th of February is my birthday, but some of them are quite astray in saying that I am seventy-nine years old. I was born the 9th of February, 1814, and was seventy-two years old on my last birthday. Although seven years younger than you are, I can readily believe that you are practically younger than I. You have not done so much as I to exhaust the vital powers, and have not so large a debt to pay for strength borrowed and consumed in advance. My eyes are extremely good, and enable me to pass most of my time in reading; my ears are both of them much more acute than those of most people. The doctors tell me that every vital organ is in strong and sound condition. But I have been for some years greatly annoyed by a mysterious malady of some of the nerves of motion, which imparts a tremor to my hands, and impairs my voice so that I lose most of the pleasures of conversation.
"I have also read the brief biography of your life and doings which you were kind enough to send me. It illustrates an example of an active, useful, and successful career.
"Wishing you every blessing of continued health, and prolonged years of happiness and prosperity,
"I am, very truly yours,
"S. J. Tilden."