The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-22

Of the anonymous correspondence. The
writer OF the letters was Mrs. George II.
Wiiliams-threc to Belknap and one to Mrs.
Robson. The proof is. in our Judgment,
conclusive, both from the extrinsic circllm-
stances and on comparing the writings. The
letters to Belknap are infamous, and would
provoke murder, or killing rather, IL the ali-
thor was man. This discovery VIC. cannot
but regard as Of the very gravest character,
and on the successful treatment OF the mat
ter may depend in a large measure the good
name OF the Cabinet and the influence OF
General Grant and his administration. 1t
will, il badly managed, make scandal
to which that of the Eatons will
be as s'light to darkness" / endeavored
to impress this upon General Belknap this
morning, and believe he fully appreciates
it, but declines to accept my suggestion that
he should not move until he has advised
with you and others, claiming that in a mat
ter affecting, as this does, his own honor
and that Of his family, he must reserve to
himself the exclusive right to decide upon
his course and as to the manner and mea-
sure Of reparation or rcprisal. / suggested
that he should see Porter. He has seen
Babcock, but Porter in such III emergency
would be wise and discreet hand. Another
thing that gives me concern-Mrs. Bobeson
and Mrs. Belknap have exchanged conf
dences to the extent OF aScertaining that
they are both victims OF the same hand,
and thus the curiosity Of the ladies all
| around is inflamed, and for this rea-
son it looks to me rs though
an explosion OF the affair might occur at any
time. Mrs. Bclknap suspects Mrs. Williams,
and General Babcock is apprehensive that
she may force the fight, and the General has
4 II.,t 0l
| the President, and he will insist on Will
! lamS'S stepping down and out; to which
! sec no objection. except the mode Of doing
it is all-important. 1t is fair to suppose that
they will fight, and so in many respects it is
one of the most difficult cases to handle that
can imagine. She will try to drag down
all. and will, of course, stop ut nothing.
| Her husband can alone deal with her. and /
am sure that he ought to be told. 1t is not,
! however, for me to suggest. | have every
! confidence in your ability to deal with the
| subject. but have less in Belknap'S. And
now, finally, pardon me for writing this. II
it had been possible i would have called
| upon you in person to report progress, but
have the best reason for not leaving the
city tonight. and think the matter too i'm
portant to await your return. Very re-
spectinlly, BLUFoED WILSON.
4 WOMAN AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL.
In obedience to the request in that note
and the request sent also by General Bah
cock, General Porter came to Washington
to aid in the further investigation and to
advise in regard to the course to be pursued.
The day after the above letter had been
written another interview took place at the
office Of the Secretary Of War, at which
there were present Belknap, Robson, Bah
cock, and Wilson. General Babcock brought
a letter which had been written to Mrs.
Grant, and that was also carefully compared
with the rest by all present, and the conclu-
siou previously reached in regard to the first
letters were only deepened by comparison
OF the last one obtained. These same gentle
men q few days later had further and pro-
longed consultation with General Porter,
and the whole field was looked over.
Nearly all the gentlemen present were
convinced that no one except Mrs.
Williams was cognizant OF certain TACT
stated in one Of these letters, and the con-
clusion OF all present at the close OF this IN
terview was that no doubt whatever existed
that Mrs. Williams had written these letters.
Various plans were suggested to- detect her
in mailing them. Among Others it was sug-
sested that the Postmaster-Generalo or the city
postmaster should be consulted in regard to
having all the mail matter deposited in the
street boxes nearest her residence collected
by itself and examined with view OF see
ing if any further anonymous letters OF the
same sort had been deposited there. 1t was
also determined that Colonel Whitley should
be watched for the purpose OF determining
whether his visits to the city were ut the
times when these letters made their appear
ance, and the dates OF his previous visits
were also ascertained, and it was found that
the dates of the letters corresponded very
nearly with the dates OF his visits.
FIXING DATES.
The time OF General Porter's visit here
and OF this consultation is fixed by the fol-
lowing notes which passed on the accession
Dear General: Yes: will be glad to see
YOU at u. W. w. Is.
March q, 1915.
ION the same sheet in Babcock' s Writlng).
| Dear Wilson: Will you happen in at the
Secretary of Wars office at II? Your New
York friend p. will be there. Bring all
you have. have q little more help in the
search. Yours, ". u. Is.
March a, 1870.
Dear Wilson: Did you get my little note
o. Z. B.
AN ANXIOUS HOUSEHOLD DISCUSSION.
At the end Of this consultation the ma
| jority Of those present were i'll favor Of say
! ing nothing to the President in regard to
the special facts which had been ascertain
| ed Some present were in favor OF saying
to the President that they had satisfied
themselves that the Attorney Generals Of
fee and some of his affairs could not stand
an investigation, which was threatened, and
| that If it took place such facts would be dis
| closed as would cause his presence in the
| Cabinet to be a load which it was not eXpe-