"_Personal._
"NEW YORK, 21 PARK ROW, _Feb. 8th, '75_.
"HON. SAML. J. TILDEN, Governor, &c.
"MY DEAR SIR,--I am satisfied that the choice of Corporation Counsel,
in place of Mr. E. Delafield Smith, lies between Mr. E. R. Robinson and
Mr. Wm. C. Whitney. There is no doubt about this.
"I am, furthermore, pretty sure that Mr. Wickham would be glad of an
influential pressure which would counterbalance the pressure of Wm. C.
Barrett, Thos. Boise, and others in favor of Whitney, and authorize him
(the Mayor) to appoint Robinson.
"You know what the influences of Barrett _et al._ are, and I am sure
you would not think them desirable advisers of a corporation counsel,
as they certainly would be of Whitney.
"I write to beg you to help, if you can, Robinson. I am sure he is far
more in accord with Mr. O'Conor, Peckham, etc., than Whitney would be,
though, of course, I am only able to speak for myself.
"I hope earnestly that you will be able to further the cause of public
justice, for which you have done so much, by bringing about, so far as
the matter comes before you, the appointment of Robinson.
"Yours Very Respectfully,
"FRANCIS C. BARLOW."