Telegram-herald., 1888-03-19
GRANT AND BADEAU
TIE GENERALS PLAN lErreR-
CO.. Fred Grant Exsnsr.tss HIS f.fhsr by
tue Publiessioz Of Bis lsttsr-fhs
Ex-rFssadsnf Would Have No
Credit Not hss Own.

Nav IokK. March ls.-Col. Frederick ID.
Grant answers the various stories thai have
been IL circulation about the relations be-
tween General Bsdeeu aud his father, the
late President Grant by giving the whole
correspondence 10 the world. General Ba-
dssu has sued Mrs. Grsnt for compensation
alleged 10 lie doe hiIn for his SHARE in the
compilation Of the memoirs.
General Badeau, says Colonel Grant. was
engaged by General Grant in 1854 TO assist
him ia the preparation Of ais personal me-
moirs. His WORK was 20 be that OF an
amauuensls. This General Badesu c1-
plains and admits in one Of the letters.
when he says.
:" have no desire. intention or right 10
claim the authorship OF your book. The
composition is entirely 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 correspondence, q demand
upon General Grant 10 the elect that he
should be paid a certain sum per month.
and likewise share in the profits 10 help
the General 10 build monument OF endur-
ing FAME. The proposition General Grant
evidently regarded as suggestion that
General Badeau should practically write his
book and General Grant assume the credit
General Grant. in long letter under date
of May 5. 1885, IN reply 10 Badeau's propo-
sition. says:
"Since pondering over the contents OF
your letter. and more particularly over the
conclusions i have drawn from II, and re-
Elections based upon what you say, and my
| n - ladD of Ia a n.
/ 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 relations may continue. as they have
always been. pleasant and friendly.
You say that / am a man of affairs, etc.
and can tell simple story You imply
that literary man must supply some deil-
ciencies. and that you are the only man
that can do il. Ii this is the case, General,
do not want a book bearing my name 20
20 before the world which | did not write,
TO such an extent rs to be fully entitled to
the credit OF authorship. | do not want 3
secret between me and some one else W hich
would destroy my honor il 1t was diyulged.
! can not think OF holding myself as de-
pendent upon any person TO supply capa-
city which | am lacking / may fail, but
Will not put ms sell III any such po-ition-
Your letter affords an abundance OF
other reasons why you should not helo 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. If others than
yourself should read this letter gu ask
for a contract and demand 81 cooper month
in advance until the work IS completed,
and 10 per cent. of the entire profits sris-
ing from the sale OF the work after it is put
upon the market. This would make you a
partner with my family as long as the
book found sale. This is preposterous.
Not one moment has your proposition been
entertained by me. This. with The state
menis enumerated in this letter, and OF hers
contained in yours, makes it impossible for
us 10 be associated in work which Is To
bear my name. Ii would be degradation
tor me to accept honors and profit from
the work of another man, while declaring
to the public that IL was the product OF my
own brain and hand.
| write frankly. because j want you 20
know WHY / cannot receive your services
now on any terms. | hope that il will nos
disturb the relations which have hereto
fore existed between us III all particulars.
Your prosperity in life will crafty me.
This correspondence between Us may bs
unknown to the world if you choose. l DO
not ask secrecy. bat the necessity for pub
licity viii not occur through any fault OF
mine.
Repeating my assurance of the best
wishes for your success in life and health
and happiness to tie end j subscribe my.
self Is ever.
Your friend and we'll wisher.
u. S. GRANT.