National Republican., 1881-12-17
MEMORIES OF FORNEY
THE TRUTH OF THE FORREST LETTER.
Now Thoughtless Act OF Pure Friendship Blasted
His Political Future-Reminis-
eenocs Of the Dead
journalist.


vented him from mounting to that height Of politi-
cal fame to which he aspred and to which his
talents urged him. The writing Of what has come
20 be known as The Forrest Letter" had an nc.
tive influence in preventing Colonel Forney's en-
trance in President Buchanan's Cabinet aud
proved an insuperabe obstacle to his further
political progress. The true story Of how that
celebrated missive came to be written has never
been told in print, and It's publication now is de-
monded, in justice to one who has suffered in this
instance, as he did in many others, that he might
benefit a friend. Daniel Dougherty, who was as
near and dear TO Colonel Forney as any one, was
familiar with the circumstances surrounding the
writing Of tho Forrest letter, and from his best
recollection Of them has this narrative obtained
lis foundation. Miss Kimberly, having made
public ''f reader, '''Si Visited Philadelphia to win
ihe applause OF its Discriminating audi.
cnces, She happened IN Colonel Fofney's
path, and his generous disposition prompted him
TO aid the lady IN obtaining the success she de.
sired. lie cxerted himself in every way to make
her Philadelphia engagement fortunate one, and
the result exceeded fond anticipation. Miss Kim.
berry then departed oman extended southern tour,
insured her q kind reception in every city she
visited aud made her trip cminently successful.
so many were the kindncsses showered on this
lady by the distinguished Journalist that her
travelling companion, Mr.. Roberts, who, IL Mr..
DOughertys memory has not proved trenchcTOus
niterwaLd became her husband, wrote letter to
Colonel Forney expressing his hearty acknowl-
edgmcnt of the GIvors conferred on Miss kim.
berley ana his earnest desire that the time might
soon arrive when he could make some return,
EDWIN fORREsT AND JAMESON
II was while this well. known public reader was
travelling through the Southern States that Edwin
Forrest, the greatest tfagCdan Of his day aud Col
onel FOrncys bosom liicnd, burst into the room of
the then editor Oi the Press one day aud In II tow
enlg rage denounced Juinison, the actor, rs the
dcspUiler OF his hearth. In very plain Language
hc accused Jamison of undue familiarity with Mrs.
Forrest The differences between the tragedian
and his wife had long been widening, and ON this
occasion the former unburdened himself to his
friend and declared that had hcbut proof Of Jami-
sons mithlessness to the demands of hospitality
he could procure the divorce he so much desired.
He 10 whom lie spoke was prc-Cmncnty an i'm.
pulsive man, nnd one who Invariably jumped be-
meath TIE spur OF the moment when priCkCd 10y the
call OF iIendship lie knew that JaniisJn was then
pGri9rmilg in New Orleans, and also that Miss
Kimberly and Mr., Roberts were nt that time in the
Crescent City. The thought flashed through his
mind that through Roberts his friend Forrest
could gain the Information he wished to obtain.
So sudden and thoughtless was the resolve that
to9k possession OF him that II never even occurred
70 him That any declaration that might be made
py ynison cQulo Mot possibly aiisct or be used us
staiiuy aud hurficdly wrote the celebrated Forrest
letter, in which he asked Roberts to get JamisUn
his intimacy with Mrs. Forrest Thus ag no harm
had come to Colonel Forney from his thomghtess
who was deeply indebted to him.
THE LETTER MADE PUBLIC.
=, some time later Miss ,mberley appeared on the
first appearance Edwin Forrest was among her
hudilOH. Returning ut night To the hotel in which
he was stopping lie WIS uCCOsted by the city editor
ora New York morning newspaper Finding that
the tfagedian had been to see and hear Miss KIM
berley, the Journalist drew from him his opinion
OF the actress. Forrest was nothing II not blunt,
and as the actress methods did not meet his un.
qualified approval, his criticism was not softcued
by Kind expression The city editor had not wit
turned at once TO his Office and wrote u criticism
OF her acting every thought expressed IN which
had been obtained from Edwin Forrest The next
1ay Mt, Roberts in the Office n uyg NOR
disposed to make decided objections to the notice
That Miss Kimberley had received. The city editor
and himself discussed the matter, and the former
finally, rs clinching argument, said that nc
criticism must be admitted to be fully justified by
Miss kim6erleys performance, for as a matter Of
fact had really been made By that master of the
Thcspian art, Edwin Forrest. Mr.. Roberts, 1t is
supposed, then determined on obtaining revenge,
and thought that he would attain his bICct by Civ.
ingpublcity TO the letter writento him by Colonel
Forney i'll Mr.. Forests interest and allow the
impression TO goabroad that conspiracy had been
entered Into TO pcSecute a deienSelcSS woman
The letter was made public, ana the political iu-
ture of Colonel FOrney was blasted by the man he
had defended. The New York Herald welded the
unfortunate missiye as acudgel TO be whirled daily
about the head Of the editor OF the Press and his
enemies never neglected an opportunity to use it
Buchanan-who would rather hear that kind
words had been said of him by an enemy than to
learn that friendly act had been performed
fuences brought to bear on him to
place In his Cabinet the man who not only
Forney were lifted out of sight when that Forrest
letter was placed on the other side of the wayering
balance Of The Presidents mind. The Southern
members of the Cabinet, with the exception, prob
ably, OF Howell Cobb, were strong i'll their oppos-
tion to Colonel Forncy, fearing that his strong in.
dividuaity would give him the mastery even over
the Chief Executive, and so they based on the
Forrest letter sentimental reasons why they could
not SIT in the Cabinet with its author Urged by
these iaacious reasons the vascillating President
turned his back on his political creator, and thus
nthoughtless act, performed from the purest mo.
tves Of friendship, affected for evermore the pO-
litics career OF Colonel Forney, for from that time
however brilliantly he may have shone in jour
nalism, he was no longer the Warwick he seemed
destined TO be.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE DEAD
colonel Forney passed life rich in reminis.
cence, and the present generation will have passed
away before new stories illustrative of his many
qualities will cease cropping up. Daniel Dough-
erty possesses great fund of anecdote bearing on
the career of his departed friend that cannot read
lily be drawn upon, however until the shock OF
the great journalists death has passed away. These
two eminent men were most intimate. Colonel
f0rney never neglected an opportunity to extend
asupporng hand to struggling young men, and
twas in this way that he first won the admiration
OF Daniel Dougherty, then young barriser who,
through the friendship of the brilliant journalist,
became known to the giants of those days, and
gained admittance TO the house of President
Buchanan. In succeeding years the two men were
almost like brothers, and, in inct, they resembled
each other so much In personal appearance as at
times To be mistaken for sons Of the SAME father.
In fact, II was onya month ago, when leaving
Delmonico's restaurant in New York, that Mr..
DoughertE was told by an attendant that his
"brother' had LETT his cane behind him some
days previous, aud ON the walking stick being
produced the name of john w. Forncy was found
engraved upon It. 1t was this same ieeling-that
Mr.. DOnghcrty now speaks so warmly of-ever
prompting Colonel Forney to give assistance to
young men of promise that ushered John Russell
Young on his journalistic career. On the very day
the Press was first published small boy passing
by the office saw an announcement on the bul-
TO read proof" lie walked into tie building saw
Gilbert Brown, the then business manager, and
was at once employed He gave his name as John
r.. Young. 1t was some years afterward that
Colonel Forney, then in Washington, wrote to
Lulher Rngwalt, the managing editor of the Press,
and now editor of the. RdEuag World, compli.
mening him ON two striking editorials that had
appeared in the columns of the Press, Mr.. Ring
walt replied that the editorials were not of his
journalist was quickly MS word could be sent 10
Philadelphia, advanced TO prominent position
on the paper.
Colonel FOrney was supremey and curiously in
different in money matters, One instance that
strongly illustrates this trait has caused many a
hearty laugh among his acquaintances, Despite
the advice Of many friends, among them Pierce
Butler, the husband " Fanny kemblc he deter.
mined to invest u large sum of money in new
enterprise-a riCC-Ceaning machine or something
Of that sort He felt financially able to do this by
reason Of having made sale Of some Lake SUI
pcrlOr property. lie filled out check on the
GiFard Bank for very large amount, and
inTusted It TO friend for collection When
the piece Of paper was presented TO The
paying teller that official first scratched his chin
and then went to see the president Of the bank
who at that time was Mr., Boxer, father Of Hon
George II, Boxer Mr. Boxer came forward smil.
ingly, and said that while Colonel FOrney had
quitea large sum Of money on deposit in the
bank, the amount TO his credit was not equal tC
that called for by the check; but STILL If Colonel
FOrney would step down to the bank himself the
check would be hOnored The friend returned tC
the Press Office in an indignant frame of mind
and told Colonel Forney that he had made hin
the bearer Of a check that had been dshonored
for the reason that there were not sufficient fund
IN the bank.