Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-01-12
Vanderbilt's Generosity.

Mr.. VIM, II. Vanderbilt on Saturday ad-
dressed the following letter to MIRA. Ulysses
S. Grant:
<"Dear Madame: SO many misrepresenta-
tons have appeared in regard to the loan
made by me- to General Grant, and reflect
ing uuuslly upon him and myself, that it
seems proper to briefly reeite The facts. On
Sunday, May !, last General Grant called
at nv house and asked me to lend him
$3.50, 900 for one day. gave him my check
without question, not because the transac-
ton WAS business-like, but simply because
the request came from General Grant. The
misfortuues 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 the time the
deeds Of your joint properties TO cover this
obligation, and urged my acceptance, on
the ground that this was the only debt OF
honor which the General had personally III
Cured, and those deeds | returned.
stDuring my absence in Europe the Gen
eral delivered TO my attorneys mortgages
mon all his own real estate, household ef-
art. which were the memorials of his vic
tories and the presents from governments
all over the world. These securities were
in his Judgment, worth the $4,000. AT his
solicitation the necessary steps were taken
by Judgment, etc, to reduce these proper
ties 10 possession, and the articles mention
ed have been this day bought in by me, and
the amounts bid applied In reduction of the
debt. Now that am at liberty to treat
these things as my own, the disposition OF
the whole matter most in accord with my
feelings is this:
II present to you as your separate estate
the debt and judgment | hold against Gen.
Grant, also the mortgages upon his real es
tate, and all the household furniture and
ornaments, coupled only with the condition
that the swords, commissions, medals, gifts
from the Quilted States, cities and from for
eign governments, and all articles of histo-
RIGA! value aud interest, shall, at the Gen
erals death or, if you desire it, sooner, be
presented to The government at Washing
ton, where they will remain as perpetual
memorials of his fame and Of the history OF
his time.
II inclose herewith assignments to you
of the mortgages aud Judgments, bill OF
sale Of the personal property and deed vi
trust in which the articles of historical in-
terest are enumerated. A copy of this trust
deed will, with your approval, be forwarded
to the President of the United States for
deposit iu the proper department.
NV. II. VANDERBILT"
Gen GRAFT sent reply, in Which he said:
Mrs. Grant accepts with pleasure the trust
which applies 10 articles enumerated in
your letter to 60 TO the government Of the
United States al my death, or sooner, at
her option. In this matter you have anti
cipated the disposition which l had con
templated making Of the articles. Papers
relating to all other property will be return
ed, with The request that you have IL sold
and the proceeds applied to the liquidation
of the debt which l 30 justly owe you. The
loan was to me personally. | got the money,
as believed, TO carry the Marine National
Bank over day, heiug assured that the
bank was solvent. | was assured by Ferdi
nand Ward that the firm of Grant & Ward
bad over S660,00 to their credit at that
time in the Marine Bank, besides 81 300, 900
Of unpledged securities in their own vaults
Mr.. Vanderbilt replied, insisting upon the
acceptance of his generosity, and General
Grant answered, accepting it. Mrs. Grant,
however, wrote:
Upon reading your letter of this after
noon, General Grant ana myself felt that ii
would be ungracious to refuse your princely
and generous offer. Hence his note to you.
But, upon reflection, find that cannot. |
will not accept your muni6cence in any
form. beg that you will pardon this ap
parent vacillatioD, and consider this an.
swer definite and final"