Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-12
VIM. II. Vanderbilt Presents Mrs,
Grant With the Judgments He
Holds Against Her
Husband
And the Mortgages on the Gen
erals Real Estate.
The Generous Offer Declined by
Mrs. Grant.

NEW YORK, Jan. IL.
Vanderbilt has written the following letter
to Mrs. Grant:
Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant-Dear Madame:
SO many misrepresentation have appeared
in regard to a load made by me to Gen
Grant and rejecting unjustly on him and
myself that 1t seems proper to briefly recite
the facts. On Sunday, the 4th of last May,
Gen. Grant called at my house and asked me
to lend him Sl50000 for one day | gave
him my check without question, not because
the transaction was business-like, but simply
because the request came from Gen. Grant.
The msfortunes which overwhelmed him in
the next "a hours aroused the sympathy and
regret of the whole country. You and he
sent me within few days of time the deeds
OF your Joint properties to cover this obliga-
ton. and urged my acceptance on the ground
that this was the only debt of honor which
the general can personally incurred ,and these
debts | returned. During my absence in
Europe the general delivered to my attorney
mortgages on all his own real estate, house
hold effects and swords, medals and works of
art which were memorials of his victories and
world. These securities were, in his judg-
ment worth the $3.50, 900. At his solicitation
the necessary steps were taken by judgement
ETC., to reduce these properties to possession
and the articles mentioned have been this
day bought in by me, and the amounts will
be applied to the reduction of the debt. Now
that | am at liberty to treat these things
as my own, the disposition of the whole mat
ter most in accord with my feelings is this ::
present You as your separate estate the debt
and judgement hold against Gen. Grant !;
also the mortgages on his real estate and all
household furniture and ornaments, coupled
only by the condition that the swords, COM
mission. medals, gifts from the United States,
States, cities and foreign governments. and
all articles of historical value and interest,
shall, at the Generals death, or if you wish
it, before be presented to the government at
Washington, where they will remain as per-
petual memorials of his fame and history OF
his time. l enclose herewith assignments to
you of the mortgages and judgments, bill
of sale of the personal property and deed OF
trust, in which the articles of historical inter
est are enumerated. copy of this trust
deed will, with your approval, be forwarded
to the President of the United States for de-
post in the proper department. Trusting
that this action will meet with your approx al
and with the kindest regards to your hus-
band, am
Yours Respectfully,
w. II. VANDERBILT.
Gen. Grant replied as follows;
New YORK CITY Jan. 10, 1884.
Dear Sir:
Mrs. Grant wishes me to answer your let
ter of this evening, and to say that while she
appreciates your great generosity in trans
ferring to her the mortgages given to secure
nv debt of $3.50, 900 she cannot accept it in
whole. She accepts with pleasure the trust
which applies to the articles enumerated in
your letter to go to the government of the
United States at my death, or sooner at her
option. In this matter you have anticipated
the disposition which l had contemplated
making of the articles. They will be de-
livered to the government as soon as arrange
ments can be made for their reception. The
papers relating to all the other property will
be returned with the request that you have it
sold and the proceeds applied to the liquida-
ton of the debt which l so justly owe you.
You have stated in your letter. with the
minutest accuracy, the history of the trans
action which brought me in your debt. l
have only to add that l regard your giving
me your check for the amount, without in
ouiry, as an act of marked and universal
friendship The loan was to me personally.
got the money as believed to carry the
Marine National Bank over day, being as
sured that the bank was solvent but owing
to ITS unusual calls needed assistance until it
could call in its loans. l was assured by
Ferdinand Ward that the firm of Grant
Ward had over S660.000 to their credit at
that time in the Marine Bank. besides 81, =
800. 900 of unpledged securities in their own
vaults cannot conclude without assuring
YOU that Mrs. Grants inability to avail her
self of your great kindness in no way lessons
either her sense of her obligation or my own
Yours Very Truly,
To w. H. Vanderbilt, Esqs
Mr.. Vanderbilt made the following reply:
GEN. u. S. GRANT,
My Dear Sir:
On nv return home, last night, l found
YOUR letter, in answer to mine to Mrs. Grant
appreciate fully the sentiments which &C
tuates both Mrs. Grant and yourself, in de-
clining the part of my proposition relating to
the real estate. l greatly regret that she
feels il her duty to make this decision, as
earnestly hoped that the spirit in which the
offer was made, would overcome any scruples
in accepting it; but must insist that shall
not be defeated in purpose to which
have given so much thought and which have
so much at heart. l will therefore, as fast
as the money is received from the sales
| of the real estate. deposit in the Union Trus,
| Company With the money thus realized,
will at once create with that company, g
trust with the proper provisions for the in.
come to be paid to Mrs. Grant, during hei
life. and giving the power to her to make
such disposition of the principle, by her will
as she may elect.
Very Truly Yours,
w. H. VANDERBILT.
| To this Gen. Grant replies today:
Dear Sir-Your letter of this date is re
ceived. Mrs Grant and l regret that yo,
cannot accept our proposition to retain th'
property which was mortgaged in good faiti
to secure to a debt of honor, but your gener
Gus determination compels us to no longe
resist.
Yours Truly,
q. S. GRANT.
This evening, Mrs. Grant closed the cor
respondence in these words: Upon reading