"Treasury Department, Office of the Chief Clerk,
"Washington, D. C., May 4th, 1886.
"Hon. Samuel J. Tilden, Greystone, Yonkers, N. Y.
"Dear Governor,—Agreeable to my promise, I write you regarding the present condition of the Secretary. He is recovering quite rapidly. He takes an interest in the affairs of the department; makes inquiries regarding the same; has interviews with various departmental officers. He seems to have retained his full mental vigor. He is not able as yet to walk freely, but it is expected that within a short time he will regain sufficient strength to enable him to go out upon the street without the aid of an attendant. It is proposed that as soon as he is able to walk that he visit some of the springs—White Sulphur Springs, if you please—and take a course of treatment, bathing, &c., after which, it is thought, that he will be able to take his vacation.
"In an interview I had with him, I stated what you had said regarding the yachting cruise, and what you would be pleased to do, &c., &c. He seemed very much delighted with the idea; said he was very fond of yachting, and thought he would enjoy it very much indeed. He said he had thought of taking a little cruise inspecting the light-houses along the Potomac, &c. I did not state to him what you said to me regarding the unhealthy condition of the Potomac, regarding which I agree with you. I think it would be much better for him if he could take the Hudson River and Sound, going as far east as New Bedford and Martha's Vineyard.
"With great respect, I remain,
"Very respectfully yours,
"E. B. Youmans."
TILDEN TO MAYOR GRACE
"Greystone, Yonkers, N. Y., May 7th, 1886.
"Dear Mayor Grace,—I have from the beginning taken great interest in the welfare of the Central Park. I had much to do in enlarging it from the northern limit, which originally was a straight line across the hill and the ravine.
"This is my excuse for writing to you now. It is my judgment, and the judgment of many of the original friends of the Park, that the filling in of a portion of the ravine is a great wrong. It is probably the beginning of a series of measures which will be the desecration and ruin of the natural beauties of the great pleasure-ground of the people. It matters not whether these results come from incompetency or from jobbery. A change in the administration of the Park seems to be absolutely necessary.