Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-01-16
WANDER BILT AND GRANT,
CORRESPONDENCE ABOUT THE DEBT,
Mr.. Vanderbilt Presents to Mrs. Grant the
Judgment and Mortgage, and also the
Historical Relics in Trust-After
Correspondence the gift Refused.

NEW YORK, Jan. l1.-Mr. Vanderbilt
has written the following letter to Mrs.
Grant:
Mrs. Ulysses :. Grant. Dear Madame
So many Misrepresentation have appear
ed in regard to the loan made by me To
gen. Grant. and rejecting UniUStlN on
him and myself, That it seems proper TO
briety rrCitr the facts. ON SUNDAY, The
18th of May last, Gen. Grant called at my
house and asked me to icnd one hundred
and fifty Thousand dollars for O.c day. !
gave him my check without question, not
because the transaction WIS business like,
but because the request Canc from ten.
Grant. The miSiOrtuncS which over
whelmrd him in the next tWcnty-Iour
hours aroused the sympathy ana
regret of. the whole country. Iuu
ana he sent me within il few
days of the time, the deeds OF
vujtr JOINT properties tn cover this OBJ
legation and urged my acceptance ON the
ground chat tins was the only debt OF
honor which the General had personally
incurred, and these deeds ! returned.
During my absence in Europe the Gen
eral delivered to my attorney mort
cages upon all his own real estate, house
hold effects and the swords, medals and
works of art which We're the memorials of
his victories and the presents from gov
egnmputS all over the world. These Sc
curties were in his judgment worth the
one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
At hls solicitation the necessary steps
were taken 10y judgment, etc, to reduce
these properties too Possession and the ar
tiClcS mentioned have been TINS uaN
bought in by me and the amounts bid
applied III reduction of the debt.
Now that am at liberty to
treat these things as my own the DISPOSE
ton of the whole matter most in accord
with my feelings is this present 10
l.t al
Judgment hold against Gen Grant also
the mortgages upon his real estate and all
the household furniture and ornaments,
coupled only with the condition that the
swords, commissions. medals, gifts from
the | uited states, cities and foreign gov
ernmcnts and all articles of historical
value and interest, shall at the General :
death, or if you desire sooner, be pre-
sentcd to the government ut Washington,
where they will remain as perpetual
memorials of his fame and Of the history
of his time. | enclose herewith assign
mcntN to you of the mortgages aud judg-
meu,, il bill of sale of the personal prop
erty and a deed of trust in which the ar
tiClcS OF historical interest are enumerated.
\ copy of this trust deed will with your
approval be forwarded to the President OF
the 'mtcd States tor deposit i'm the proper
Department. Trusting that this action
will meet with acceptance and approval,
and with kindest regards to your husband.
am yours respectfully,
lSignrdD W. II. NANDEHEIlT
To this communication Gen. Grant re
piled rs follows:
NEW YORK CITY, Jan. TO- lNN5.
Dear Sir: Mrs. Grant wishes me to an
sWcr your letter of this evening to say
that while she appreciates your great gen
crosby in transferring to her the mort
gaze given to secure my debt of Sl5O,OOO
= /.