"1623 H STREET,
"WASHINGTON, D. C., _February 15th, 1886_.
"MY DEAR MR. TILDEN,--I thank you very much for your
note of the 12th. We old men must keep up the good tradition
which we received from the fathers, and which you defended in the
constitutional convention of New York.
"I am also alive, as you undoubtedly are, to the dangers that
overhang the country by a legislative measure, designed to throw
gold out of circulation, and to depreciate the currency fully twenty
per cent. By this measure, among infinite evils, all contracts now
in force between the employer and the laborer will be depreciated
twenty per cent., to the injury of the poor; and every one of our
newspapers will be compelled to stop its publication or to raise its
price.
"Wishing you perfect health and long life,
"I am, very sincerely yours,
"GEO. BANCROFT.
"Pray recall me to the kind recollection of your nieces, whom I had
great pleasure in meeting a few weeks ago."