on all non-national circulation and final prohibition
after a few years, say two--or at most three--gold would now have
been at not more than fifty per cent. premium and that resumption
of specie payments might have been effected within a year. I trust
the next session will witness bolder and better legislation. It
will be one of your brightest honors that you so clearly saw and
so boldly followed the path of reform; for certainly no greater
boon--except liberty itself--can be conferred upon a nation than
a truly national and thoroughly sound currency.

"Yours most truly,
"S. P. Chase.
"Hon. John Sherman."

After the election he wrote me the following letter, in which he
referred to the appointment of a chief justice, with an evident
desire for the office:

"Cincinnati, November 12, 1864.
"My Dear Sir:--The papers still state you are in Washington. I am
glad of it, and hope you may be able to render good service to our
friend, Fessenden. The task of preparing a report is no light one.
At least it always made me sweat and keep late hours. May he find
a safe deliverance from the labor.

"All sorts of rumors are afloat about everything. Those which
concern me most relate to the vacant seat on the bench; but I give
little heed to any of them. My experience in Washington taught me
how unreliable they are. If what I hear is any index to the state
of opinion, Mr. Lincoln must be satisfied that in acting on the
purpose expressed in your letters, he will have the almost, if not
quite, unanimous approval of the Union men throughout the country.
So I 'possess my soul in patience,' and urge nothing.

"If it did not seem to me a sort of indelicacy even to allow to
anyone the slightest occasion to say that I solicit or even ask
such an appointment as a favor or as a reward for political service,
I should now be on my way to Washington; but I think it due to
myself as well as the President to await his decision here; though,
if appointed, I hope the appointment will be considered as made
from the country at large rather than from Ohio alone. My legal
residence is here; but my actual domicile is still in the District.

"Please write me, if you can, when the President will act. Let me
know too how the military and political aspects at Washington appear
to you. We have achieved a glorious political victory, which must
greatly help our military prospects and possibilities.

"Mr. Miller has just come in and says