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I hope you will persevere in your work, and if ‘four-in-hand’ goes slower than a ‘single team’ that you will come down to the faster method of driving one at a time.
With kindest regards,
Your obt. svt,
Letter no.
Twenty-nine.
This letter is already given at the close of Chapter I, where it seemed pertinent.
I had asked
General Grant about material for the political memoir which I always intended should follow the military volumes.
He looked forward to this sequel with an interest quite equal to that he felt in the earlier history, for he knew that his civil career had been harshly criticized, and he was anxious to have it vindicated.
He offered me every assistance in his power, and furnished from time to time whatever material he could, in advance.
Mr. Fish has been good enough to keep the promise made for him by
General Grant; and I am indebted to him for not a few statements in this volume which I could not otherwise have made so positively.
My dear General,—Your letter and enclosed chapter of history were received here on our arrival yesterday.
I have read the chapter and find no comments to make.
It is no doubt as correct as history can be written, ‘except when you speak about me.’
I am glad to see you are progressing so well.
Hope Vol. 2, will soon be completed and that the book will find large sale.
No doubt but
Gov. Fish will take great pleasure in aiding you in your next book.
He has all the data so far as his own Dept.
was concerned.
It was his habit to sum up the proceedings of each day before leaving his office and to keep that information for his private journal.
To-day we ascend
Mt. Vesuvius, to-morrow visit
Pompeii and
Herculaneum.
About Saturday, the 22d start for
Palermo, thence
