The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-08
Interesting md Curious Correspondence on
llitayJ AIiONauces.

| Interesting and Curious Correspondence on
~ ilitaSy Allowances.
From the san Diego Herald
We have received for publication the following CORES
pondence, which is than rch it positively lus
cious:-
WASHINGTON JAN IA, 1854.
LIEUT.. G. II. Derby. L. s. Army San Diego Cali
SIRAn effort having been made by me, in connection
sent sion by which army officers viii receive the same
allowances whilst they served in California Oregon
were granted to navy officers beg to call your attention
thereto and especially ask your approval OF the contem
plated attempt.
You that Congress, its last session. grant.
ed in the Naval Appropriation bill extra pay ($2 per
diem) to the officers and double pay to sailors and
others, serving in the Pacific during the Mexican war,
and up to the 2sth of September 1850 This allowance
based upon the supposition thai the officers Of the
army serving in California had received the allow
by previous acts of Congress- when, In fact this
1850.
There large number of arm. officers justly emit
tied to an additional allowance and for precisely the
same which have induced Congress to grant 1t to
the Navy and especially those who served there subse
quent to the LIST January, 1S4S when they
ries Of lfe having other alternative and of
leaving the country like the officers Of the Pacific squad
rom who could have left the coast Of California and gone
to cheaper station.
have been requested by number of officers stationed
in Texas to solicit your operation in carrying this
desirable object by contributing in the event Of success
the proporonabe per centun agreed upon by them viz
five ten per cent the amount that may accrue to
you a remuneration for services rendered Your con-
is therefore requested and it is that
If there should be failure which, however, is not anti
ciPated, no charge of any kind shall be made.
Soliciting your Immediate attention and early reply.
remain, very respectfully, your obedent servant,
CHARLES DE SELDING.
SAN DIEGO 10th March, 1884
My DEAR CHARIEs:-I have received your modest
or ten cent of that Congress may hereafter
in it's infinite benefcence appropriate to my relief
you state intake to me at the instance
For the benefit Of those gentlemen, . well your
self, have asked Mr. Ames to print your letter and my
answer in the world renowned San Diego Her1ld-the
only method zee of communicating with your advisers
letter directed to "a number Of officers stationed in
ordinary channels.
Upon mature reflection, of nearly Eve minutes have
come to the conclusion to decline aoedng to your pro-
posal This decision has resulted from several consider
ations
In The first place, don't know you, Charles. never
your card which you so kindly enclosed and which nv
wife has just stuck Of the cracked looking
glass that adorns our humble chamber that you are
general agent, (Which may be new military rank, for
all know, created with the Lieutenant Generacy and
If IT Is beg your pardon and touch my hat for have
great respect for rank and notary public and that
you live on Seventh street, opposite the Odd Fellows
HALL Why not move the streetO But all this
acquaintance; and declare Charles do not even
Lnow now whether you may not be some designing
Tcron who seeing that bill is likely to pass for the
relief OF certain distressed officers, seeks to levy little
nttsnce under the pretext of having Influenced Con-
the general agents, notaries public United States com
missioners and commissioners Of deeds that lived
opposite or in Odd Fellows Hall would fail accom-
plish had not Congress made up IT'S benevolent mind
do 1t without consulting them.
Second Why should promise to give you ten per cent
of that Allowance ooh, don't you wish you might get
it'll hope shall) You say you have made an effort to
get it Tor us. All Charles love and honor you for
doing SO Il you have but how when and where-tell me-
where did you make that efiortf But, II you did So
what Of III Perhaps-startling thought-you will be
writing to me for ve ten per cent? Of that humble
tnnn try (hurla IJuYA
assure you.
AS to your making an effort that's all nonsense.
Everybody makes efforts now adays Everybody that
ever read Of except Mrs Dombey made effort; and II
my grandmother were to die and leave me a thousand
collars you might with equal proprcty inform that
you made effort for that venerable persons decease
and claim hve ten per cent? Of that amount Of pro,
perty, as to humbug with your making efforts in
hnence Congress, who as said before soemnly be-
publics in all Washington.
From these two considerations / conclude that you
have no claim or shadow of claim me- but that your
proposal Is merely request for charity to the amount
of five or ten per cent the small sum that you,
living in Washington, and watching the signs of the
This charity shall decline bes.owng for three good
and sufficient
LIST. am very poor myself.
I'd have a family to support on $50 So a month,
which isn't such n tremendous income in q country
where -four is thirty dollars per barrel
3D. III see you - first giving You full permission
TO fill the blank with any Kind aspiration for YOUR future
welfare and happiness that may to you and that
you may deem appropriate.
Farewell Charles remember me kindly to "a number
Of officers stationed in Texas when YOU write Invest
properly and judicously Eve or ten per cent YOU
get from themin your future efforts forget me- and
member to
.,Bs viytuous and yon viii be happy
GEO II. DERBY Lieut. Topogl Engineers.
ODD lslovs Han General agent, Notary Public Com.
States in the Union and elsewhere
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