its date:

"December 26, 1878.
"My Dear Sir:--Much obliged for your kind letter of the 21st.

"My official duties engross my time so much that I scarcely catch
a glimpse of home affairs by reading the newspapers, and your
intelligent view is therefore the more interesting. It seems to
me that the nomination of General Garfield for governor and Foster
for lieutenant governor would be a very excellent arrangement, but
I understand that it is not agreeable to them. Garfield has no
desire for the position, while Foster feels that he ought to head
the ticket. An understanding that Garfield is to be Senator might
embarrass us in certain doubtful districts, where the chief contest
would be upon that office. Still such a ticket would be universally
conceded to be very strong and would inspire confidence, and would
be entirely satisfactory to me. Indeed, I wish to be in a condition
to support our political friends in anything they may do in the
convention, without taking an active part in it.

"The contingency that you refer to with which my name is connected
is still to remote to talk about. I never supposed that a person
occupying my office, open to attack and compelled to say no to so
many persons, could be sufficiently popular to justify any party
in running him for the presidency, and, therefore, I have always
dismissed such suggestions as the kindly compliments of the hour.
Certainly it has not gained my mental consent, nor is it considered
by me as one of the probabilities of the future. If I should get
the maggot in my brain it would no doubt be more likely to hurt
than help.

"The tendency of public opinion is evidently towards General Grant,
whose absence and good conduct are in his favor, while the involuntary
feeling of Republicans would be in favor of nominating him as a
remonstrance against the violence in the south, and notice that it
must end.

"However, a year hence will be time enough to settle this matter.

"I send my hearty greetings for the holiday season, and remain,

"Very truly yours,
"John Sherman.
"Hon. Richard Smith, Cincinnati, O."

About this time I received the following letter:

"United States Legation, }
"Mexico, December 15, 1878.}
"Hon. John Sherman, Washington, D. C.

"My Dear Sir:--Allow me to send you, as a New Years' greeting, my
hearty congratulations on your successful management of our national
finances and on the resumption of specie payments, which I