mbus, O., February 16, 1877.
"My Dear Sir:--If the issue of the contest is in our favor I shall
want to see you at once if it is at all practicable. Don't you
want to visit Mansfield? I can meet you there or here--or possibly
at a point east of there.

"Sincerely,
"R. B. Hayes.
"Hon. John Sherman."

"Columbus, O., February 19, 1877.
"My Dear Sir:--The more I think of it the more difficult it seems
for me to get ready to come to Washington before Wednesday or
Thursday of next week. I must fix affairs at Fremont, and cannot
begin it until I know the result. Why can't friends be sent or
come here?

"It seems to me proper now to say that I am extremely desirous that
you should take the treasury department. Aside from my own personal
preference, there are many and controlling reasons why I should
ask you to do this. It will satisfy friends here in Ohio. I
understand Governor Morton and our friends in Washington like it.
The country will approve it. You are by all odds the best fitted
for it of any man in the nation. Your resignation from the Senate
will be a great loss to that body, but it will cause no serious
dissensions or difficulty in Ohio. Do not say no until I have had
a full conference with you. There is no reason why you should not
visit Ohio as soon as you can be spared from Washington. Of course
the public will know of our meeting. But they will be gratified
to know it. No possible harm can come of it. I should have said
all this before, but I did not want to embarrass you in your action
on the presidential question.

"Sincerely,
"R. B. Hayes.
"Hon. John Sherman."

(Telegram.)
"Columbus, O., February 20, 1877.
"Hon. John Sherman.

"I will be greatly obliged if you can come to Columbus, but will
meet you at Zanesville if you think it important.

"R. B. Hayes."

"Columbus, O., February 28, 1877.
"Hon. John Sherman, Washington, D. C.

"Dear Sir:--Governor Hayes will be obliged to you if you will be
kind enough to speak to Mr. Evarts with respect to his acceptance
of the place in the cabinet referred to in the interview with you
last week. It was the governor's intention to make this request
at that time, and he may have done so, but not being quite sure of
the fact, desires me to write you with reference to it.

"Yours very respectfully,
"W. K. Rogers, Secretary."

President Hayes frequently, in personal conversation and in writing,
had expressed a