he goes to Washington to-
night. Had he come before I began, I should have spared you this
letter; only asking him to make verbally the inquiries I have just
set down; but I will send it with 'answer respectfully solicited.'

"Yours very cordially,
"S. P. Chase.
"Hon. John Sherman."

Early in December I received the following letter, which indicates
very clearly that Mr. Chase was anxious for the position of chief
justice, and wished his appointment made, if at all, before his
arrival in Washington:

"Cleveland, December 2, 1864.
"My Dear Sir:--Yours of the 27th of November reached me here to-
day. Yesterday I fulfilled my appointment to make an address on
the dedication of the college edifice recently erected at Mount
Union, under the patronage of the Pittsburg conference of the
Methodist church. A number of leading men of the denomination were
present and assured me of the profound wishes of themselves and
the most influential men of the connection for my appointment.
These indeed seem to be universal except with an inconsiderable
number whom various circumstances have made unfriendly personally.
So that I cannot doubt that the President's adherence to his declared
intention is more important to our cause and to his administration
than it is to me personally. Not to be appointed after such
declaration and such expressions would, no doubt, be a mortification;
but it would not, I think, be any serious injury to me.

"I expect to be in Washington, Tuesday or Wednesday. I should have
been there long since had this appointment been determined either
way; but I must come now. My personal duties, unconnected with
it, have required and now require my attention, and though I hated
to come before I knew that there remains nothing to hope or fear
concerning it, I must. I will be at the Continental, Philadelphia,
Tuesday morning.

"Our news from Tennessee is important and encouraging. Garfield's
success against Forrest was brilliant. I hope Thomas will succeed
as well against Hood.

"General Sherman must now be near the coast. His enterprise is
full of hazard, but a hazard wisely incurred as it seems to me.
I ardently hope that 'out of the nettle, danger, he will pluck the
flower, safety.'

"Our majority on the presidential election in Ohio turns out much
less than I anticipated. It will hardly, if at all, exceed fifty
thousand.

"Faithfully yours,
"S. P. Chase.
"Hon. John Sherman."

When I