"Dear Mr. Tilden,—I am much concerned touching the matter about which Messrs. Avery and Collins and myself conferred with you a few days at Albany.
"Although the Fenian sympathizers seem disposed to oppose the nomination of Mr. A.,[10] I think their opposition can be controlled; but a certain candidate, who has hitherto expressed himself willing to waive any claims he may have for the nomination in favor of our man, has now changed his mind and wants it.
"We fear he will cause such discord in the convention as to prevent our offering the nomination to Mr. A. upon the terms upon which he consents to accept it. These are, that it should be made with reasonable unanimity.
"We can carry the convention for our candidate, but not, probably, with such general consent as would be required.
"We have had several interviews with the party causing the trouble, and tried our best to impress upon him the importance of nominating Mr. A. for the sake of our cause outside of Massachusetts, but to no effect.
"If we fail in this matter I shall feel that we have lost some of our chances for success.
"Congratulating you upon the auspicious outlook elsewhere,
"I am, very truly, y'rs,
"F. O. Prince."