Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-25
THE FORREST LETTER.
HOsc a ThOugLttess oct Of Friendship
Blasted the Political Future OF the Late
Col. FOrney.
PHILADELPHIA Press.]


Col. FOrney.
Philadelphia Press.]
One simple, thoughtless act in the life
of the late Col. John w. Forney, being
made the subject of baseless and continu-
ed Misrepresentation, prevented him from
mounting to that height of political fame
to which he aspired, and to which his
talents urged him. The writing of what
has come to be known as "The Forrest
Letter. had an active influence in pre-
venting Col Forney's entrance in Presl-
dent Buchanan cabinet, and proved an
insuperaDle object to his further political
progress. The true story of how that
celebrated missive came to be written
has never been told in print, and its pub
LEGATION now is demanded in justice to
one who has suffered in this instance, as
he did in many others, that he might
benefit friend Daniel Dougherty, who
was as near and dear to Col. Forney as
any one. was familiar with the circum-
stances surrounding the writing OF the
Forrest letter, and from his best recollec-
ton of them has this narrative obtained
| its foundation.
Miss Kimberley, having made great
success in New York as public reader,
visited Philadelphia to win the applause
of it's discriminating audiences. She hap
pened in Col Forney's path, and his gen.
erous disposition prompted him to aid the
| lady in obtaining the success she desired.
He exerted himself in every way to make
her Philadelphia engagement fortunate
one, and the result exceeded fond expect
ations. Miss Kimberley then departed
on an extended southern tour, bearing
with her letters from Col. Ferney that
| insured her kind reception in every city
she visited, and made her trip eminently
successful. So many were the klndnesses
showered upon this lady by the distin-
guished journalist that her travelling COM
panion, Mr. Roberts, who, if Mr.. Dough-
erty's memory has not proved treacher-
Gus. afterwards became her husband,
wrote letter to Col. Forney expressing
his hearty acknowledgment OF the favors
conferred on Miss Kimberley, and his
earnest desire that the time might soon
arrive when he could make some return
1t was while this we'll known public
reader was travelling through the South
ern States that Edwin Forrest, the great
est tragedian of his day, and Col. For
news bosom friend, burst into the room
of the then editor of the Press one day,
and in towering rage denounced Jami-
son. the actor, as the despoiler of his
hearth. In very plain language he &C
cused Jamison of undue familiarity with
Mrs. Forrest. The difference between
the tragedlan and his wife had long been
widening, and on this occasion the form
er unburdened himself to his friend, ard
declared that had he but the proof of ia
mison's faithlessness to the demands of
hospitality he could procure the divorce
he so much desired He to whom he
spoke was pre- eminently an impulsive
man, and one who invariably jumped be-
meath the spur of the moment when
pricked by the call of friendship
He knew that Jamlson was then perform
ing in New Orleans, and also that
Miss Kimberley and Mr.. Roberts were at
that time in the Crescent City. The
thought flashed through his mind that
through Roberts his friend Forest could
gain the information he wished to obtain.
So sudden and thoughtless was the re-
solve that took possession of him that it
ton that might be made by Jamison
could not possibly affect or be used as
evidence against Mrs. Forrest. He sat
down instantly, and hurriedly wrote the
celebrated Forrest letter in which he
asked Roberts to get Jamison ''in his
cups" and worm from him the secrets
of his intimacy with Mrs. Forest. Thus
| far, no harm had come to Col. Forney
from his thoughtless action, for the
letter was in the custody of Roberts,
who was deeply indebted to him.
Some time later Miss Kimberley ap-
peared on the theatrical stage in New
Y ork. On the night of her first appear
| ance, Edwin Forrest was among her au
| ditors, Returning at night to the hotel
in which he was stopping, he was accost-
| ed by the city editor of a New York
morning newspaper. Finding that the
| tragedian had been to see and hear Miss
Kimberley, the journalist drew from him
| his opinion of the actress. Forest was
nothing if not blunt, and as the actress
methods did not meet his unqualified APP
proval, his criticism was not softened by
kind expressions. The city editor had not
witnessed Miss Kimberley's performance,
but he returned at once to his office and
wrote criticism of her acting, every
thought expressed in it which had been
obtained from Edwin Forrest The next
day Mr.. Roberts was III the Office of the
newspaper, disposed to make decided
| objections to the notice that Miss Kim
| berley had received. The city editor and
himself discussed the matter, and the
former finally, as clinchlng argument,
said that the criticism must be admitted
to be fully justified by Miss Kimberley's
performance, for, as matter of fact, it
had really been made by that master of
the Thespian art, Edwin Forrest Mr..
Roberts, it is supposed, then determined
on obtaining revenge, and thought that
he would attain his object by giving
publicity to the letter written
to him by Col. Forney in Mr..
Forests interest, and allow the i'm
preston to go abroad that conspiracy
had been entered into TO prosecute a
defenseless woman. The letter was made
public, and the political future of Col
Forney was blasted by the man he had
befriended. The New York Herald
welded the unfortunate missive as a
cudgel to be whirled daily about the head
of the editor of the Press, and his enemies
never neglected an opportunity to use 1t
to his detriment. When cold looded
James Buchanan--whO would rather
hear that kind wo DIS had been said of him
by any enemy than to learn that friend
ly act had been performed by supporter
was having strong influences brought