"GREYSTONE, _April 29, 1886_.
"DEAR MR. GOWEN,--I have received your letter of April 22d.
I have not found an earlier opportunity of answering it.
"I have a pleasing memory of you when you were in the profession.
Since that time, I have known you only through the public journals.
"My esteem for you would make it a pleasure to shake you by the hand.
"But I cannot see how I can be of any use to you in the matter of
which you speak. The delicacy of my health, and the necessity of
my avoiding fatigue as far as possible, render it inexpedient for
me to undertake anything more than the unavoidable attention to my
personal affairs compels me to do.
"I therefore cannot engage in the work of considering any scheme for
the reorganization of the great interests involved in the Reading
Railroad, or make the investigations which would be necessary to
give any real value to my opinion on the subject.
"Assuring you of my high regard,
"I am, very truly yours,
"S. J. TILDEN.
"_Franklin B. Gowen, Esq., Philadelphia, Pa._"