The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-29
THE FORBES CORRESPONDENCE.


CARDS FROM HORACE GREELEY AND JAMES REDP ATH.
A certain Mr.. II. Forbes--sometimes q know not wby)
called Colonel Forbesfls close page Of the Herald
with what there characterized Z" Most Important
Revelations respecting Old Brown and the completely Of
aong republicans in his operations Into this Ia
bored and successful attempt exposure by Colonel
Forbes / ind my name most wantoniy dragged Nv
only reason for noticing the performance is belief that
the public may infer from the facts in my what
the probable truth with respect TO others whose names
have been dragged into these Most important Revca-
honso
This Forbes appeared in our city some time after the ex-
ploon OF the European revolutionary uprising Of ls4s,
and claimed have borne an important part in that
movement Of course he was needy, and the HERALD
Gays be was at time reporter translator the
Tribune This is quite probable, though do not recol
kct IT.
Some time late IN 1856 q think was) was apprised
that he was going out TO Kansas TO help the free State
then threatened with annhlaton by the border ruff
fans of Missouri backed by federal func,onares and
troops lawrence had then been twice beleaguered and
sacked; Oesawatome had been twice ravaged and
burned homework had boon just before swept clean Of
free State by Missouri raid--Wilam Phillips being
bu,chered while defending his hoose, his brother
badly wounded and captured, while those who made no
sent down the river hours notice.
AZ Forbes protested to be capable and experienced
military officer, especially qualified for guerilla or border
warfare and as he had always claimed to be earnest
red republican and foe OF every form OF human
slavery, thought his resolution natural and com
mendable Knowing him to be poor, ! gave him
SO as be starting; others gave him larger
sans; how much In all, ] do not know: but think
his total receipts from friends Of free Kansas
count OF his resolve cannot have fallen below $500 He
went, absent some months, cane back: that Is all
know Of his services 70 the free State cause In any shape
Whether because be not needed, trusted,
was found incompetent, do not KNOW only know
that he did nothing, and was practically worth nothing
believe he spent part Of the money given him in print
ing pamphlet, embodying his notions OF guerilla or
partisan warfare; OF course dollar ever cine back
think heard OF him before his return. ciamoring for
more money
In due time he reappeared in New York and came TO
las to others) with complaints that he had been dc
ceived, mised gwndled, beggared his family lin Paris)
turned INTO the streets TO sarve Sc &c. tried TO
" I'm hp hat
had been broken, &c, but with little All could
make out was that some one-he says il Old
Brownhad promised hxn something in the way OF pecu-
mary rccompense ioi his services which had not been
made good and that his family consequently
dnced TO the brink of starvation.
To this hour have never learned what Brown FOR an
one ese) PROMISED FORBES nor how far the proscr pro
fessed TO have the right TO commit others do not be-
heve that John Brown ever wiuy deceived him or any
else. am very that one was ever authorized
70 engage the services Of Sol Forbes in behalf OF the
free State Of Kansas condition ina. said rr,o,
should be authorized TO charge own price for thss
services and draw at pleasure some Responsible
for payment. have heard any once vers;nn of
the matter hut Forbes and confidently infer from ihs
that If there mutual Misunderstanding and dissp
pomtment in the premises, the employing party had de-
Cidedly the worst Of it,
Forbes says that lin response 10 bis complaints ana
representations-ar that Ihe had legal caIr1
according TO the lower law" II really seems 70 that
there room for argument on that point He fur
Their says that told him he sought 10 have known that
engagements Of this sort kepnever mean
20 be kept As have not 70 ths hour been able 10
certain what "eDgagement,' if any, made with him
nor by whom this cannot be the full and fair purpor
my remark did urge that, If he had contract witt
any one, whereby others held bound to pay hin
money, whether in definite indefinite amounts, h
ought 10 be able 70 show some other evidence Of tina
fact than his unsupported assertion. Had Brown
been anyhow indebted Forbes for services to thu
free State cause cannot doubt that he (B.) woulc
have settled with him, and at least acknowi
edged the obligation In writing. Had Brown stpu
lated that others should pay him money, he (B) would
least have settled the account and given him F order
on the person who to pay H. But Forbes showed
contract no acknowledgment Of indebtedness, owl
aence that any one but himself considered the friends
Tree hansas indebted to him 10 the arhng
Inc whoe matter showed its face that whoever en-
poed FORBES felt that f. had got enough out Of the free
.siate men. II, then, answered him that he bad No
Scga and that engagements that sort are never
kept -tnat II, such engaRemene' az he appeared n
rest bis claim upon---was not right y
slDce tnat conerencemore than two years sinceJ do
not recollec that have till now been favored with m
overplus OF Sol Forbes" attentions THANH him sor
their absence, and trust IL may continue ~ ~
The Fifth Avenue Hotel Committee In ,bor lo, -,
Sesto, roundly assert that 'SDe '"Au4
Letters written 70 Mr. Forbes OF this civ prove ,h,, 30
publican Senator'S OF the United States were made conI1a ~
lbe invasion intended but concealed secret within hsr
breasts aid yefraned from div ulgng public am,b
&eA-
on course there such letters-that stated VOC
terday-but since Forbes rocket is exploded there i,
even pYstence Of any Forbes Gays that just eight