Year: 1876

With the subject, but have less in Belknap's And
now finally, pardon me for writing this II It had
been possible would have called upon you in person
TO report progress but have the best for not
leaving the city tonight and think the matter too
important 10 await your return Very respectfully,


BLUFoRD WILSON.


woNAS AT Tue Bottom OF ALL


In obedience to tho request in that note and the ro
quest sent also by General Babcocx General Porter
Washington to aid in the further gation
and to advise IN regard to the course TO be pursued
The day after the above letter had been written another
interview took place at the ONCE OF the Secretary Of
War, at which there were present Belknap, Robcson
Babcock and Wilson. General Babcock brought let
ter which had been written to Mrs Grant, and that was
also carefully compared with the rest by all present.
and the conclusion previously reached IN regard to the
first letters was only deepened by comparison OF the
last one obtained. These same gentlemen few days
later had further aud prolonged consultation with
General Porter, and whole cld was looked over
Nearly all the gentlemen present convinced that
except Mrs. Williams cognizant of GER
tain tact stated In OF these letters and the con-
cusion OF all present at the close Of this interview
that no doubt whatever existed that Mrs. Will
Jams had written these letters. Various plans were
suggested TO detect her in mailing them. Among
others it suggested that the Postmaster General
the city Postmaster should be consulted In regard
to having all the mail matter deposited in the street
boxes nor residence collected by itself and
examined with view OF seeing II any further anony
nous letters OF the same sort had been deposited
there. 1t was also determined that Colonel Whitley
should DO watched for the purpose OF determining
whether hts visits the city were at the times when
these letters made their appearance and tho dates OF
his previous visits also ascertaned, and II was
that the dates the letters corresponded very
nearly with the dates OF his visits


fIxiNG DATES.


The time OF General Porters visit hero and Of this
consultation Is lxed by the following notes which
passed the occason:-


DkAR GESERAL-Yes; will be glad to SEQ you at
twelve. W. W. B.
MARCH ~, 1875


(on the Same sheet in Babcock's writing(


DEAR WILsoN-Wili you happen in at the Secretary
OF Wars office at twelves Your New York friend T.
Will be there. Bring all you have. l have little
help in the search. Yours, O. L. Il.
MARCH, "a, 1875


+ DEAR wILsox-Dd you get my little notei


o. Z. B.


ANXIOUS HOUSEHOLD DISCUSSION


At the end Of this consultation majority of those
present in favor of saying nothing to the Presi
dent in regard the special facts which had been
certained. Some present IN favor of saying TO
the President that they had satisfied them
selves that the Attorney Generals office
and some Of his affairs could not stand an
investigation which threatened, and that II It took
place such wou Id be disclosed would his
presence in tho Cabinet to be load which Il not
expeden for the President to carry There was somc
opposition TO this, however, and 1t insisted by
nearly all present that the President should bo
informed OF the whole matter. General Brstow who
was absent was written regard to tho matter and
ADVISED to come to Washington, and the final result
was that all the facts and the conclusion based upon
them wero laid before tho President, who himself exam
incd the letters and concdcd with the rest In the con-
cuson they had reached to the authorship Of
the letters this time the President and his Cabinet
were about leaving for the Lexington Centennial and
the retirement of Attorney General Williams was at
decided upon, and the agreement reached
that he should withdraw from the Cabinet
soon after the return from New England;
and as final result the Attorney General
left the Cabinet before tho LIST OF May without having
been informed OF tho reasons for it, and without any
intmation whatever Of the investigation having
been begun, that no testified correctly before the
whiskcy Committee that neither the President
any member Of his Cabinet had mentioned this
matter to him, and that, for AS no knew had
son to believe the letters In question originated
In his household


A THEORY ABOUT JEALOUSY AND REVENGE.


Another theory by which Il is attempted to explain
the belief that Mrs Williams wrote these letters that
It was in return tho bitter and persistent intrguos
of many tho leading women in Washington to
the defcat of Attorney General Williams as Chief Jus.
tice on Of their jealousy OF Mrs. Williams and
their determination that If any Efforts Of their own
could preven. should not occupy tho position OF
second lady social rank in Washington.