"ALBION, _April 20, 1870_.
"MY DEAR SIR,--Your kind favor received. I infer that you are opposed
to my taking a nomination for chief judge, and it is quite likely you
are right about it; but I feel that there has been a great _break_
in my life, and that it may be as well to start on a new track. My
reputation is now fair, and on the bench I can keep it so, until I want
to use it for my own benefit and that of my friends, and I think I can
aid you politically as much as I can to remain as I am. I shall, of
course, object to being regarded as '_shelved_' by the operation, and
yet such may be the result, and some people will doubtless favor my
nomination for that reason. _They may be awfully mistaken, but this is
confidential._
"I shall not dare to go to Rochester next week, lest the excitement
might produce a relapse; but you must come here and see me the day
before the convention, which you can easily do, and then we can talk
the whole thing up--as you say, it cannot be written. Don't fail to
come.
"Truly yours,
"S. E. CHURCH."
"Mrs. C. and Nellie send regards."