The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-03-21
A ScHEMER EXPOSED
Gen. Grant Understood Badeau's Little
Game and Checkmated Him.

Game and Checkmated Him.
NEW YORK, March 17.-Col. Fred D. Grant
answers the various stories that have been in
circulation about the relations between Gen.
Badeau and his father, the late President
Grant, by giving the whole correspondence to
the world. Gen. Badesu was engaged by Gen.
Grant in 1854 10 assist him in the preparation
of his personal memoirs. His work was to be
that Of an amanuensis. This Gen. Badesu ex-
plains, and admits in one OF his letters, when
he says; 81 have no desire, intention or right to
claim the authorship OF your book The com
position is eRtirely your own"
After General Grants sudden relapse in 1885,
General Badeau, impressed with the magnitude
of the sale Of the proposed memoirs, and seeing
immense gains, made, as appears in the cor
respOndence, q demand upon General Grant to
the effect that he should De PAL ! a certain sum
per month and likewise a share in the profits to
help the ger eral build a monument of enduring
lame. The proposition General Grant evidently
regarded as a suggestion that General Badelu
should practically write his book ana General
Grant assume the credit.
zen. Grant, in a long letter under date OF May
5, 1855, in reply 10 B8deau's proposition, SAYS.
"Since pOndering over the coRtents OF your let
ter, and more particularly over the conclusions
l have drawn from II and reflections based
upon what yOn say, and my knowledge of your
temper and disposition, l understand the letter
better than you do. ] have concluded that you
and must give up all association so far as the
preparation of any literary work goes. which is
to bear my signature In all other respects /
hope our re atoms may continue as they have
always been, pleasant and friendly.
You say that / am a man OF affairs
imply that a literary man must
supply some deficiencies, and that yo1 are the
only man Who can do It,. II this IS the ease,
to go before the world which 1 did not write to
such an extent as to be fully entitled to the
II II a
between me and some one else which would
destroy my honor If divulged. can not think
OF holding myself as dependent upon any per-
son to supply capacity which am lacking.
may fail, but will not put myself Ia any snch
position.
reasons why you should not help me in my
work, which is to bear my name. But these are
sufficient, add only what is necessary to make
q part OF what has been already said plain il
others, than yourself, should ever read this
letter. You ask for a contract and demand
sl.COO per month in advance until the work is
completed, and 10 per cent. OF the entire profits
arising from the sale oil the work after II is
put upon the market. This would make you a
partner with my family as long as the book
found a sale: This is preposterous. Not for
one moment has your proposition been enter
tanned by me. This, with the statements
enumerated in this letter and others contained
in yours, make il impossible for US to become
associated in a WORK which is to bear by name.
Ii would be a degradation for me TO accept
honors and profit from the work of another
man while declaring to the public that it was
the product of my own brain and hand.
"IwTite frankly because want you to know
why l cannot receive your services now on any
terms. hope that it win not disturb the re-
lations which have heretofore existed between
us in all particulars. Your prosperity in life
viii crafty me. This correspondence between
us I. ay be unknown to the world if you choose.
I d o not ask secrecy, but the necessity for pub
liclIy viii not occur through any fault of
mine Repeating my assurance OF the best
VIII hes for your success in life and health and
happiness to the end, 1 subscribe myself
ever,
"Y0ur friend and well wisher,
80. s. GRANT"