"79 STATE STREET, "BOSTON, _Sept. 27, 1864_. "HON. S. J. TILDEN. "DEAR SIR,--I desire to introduce to your acquaintance my son, the bearer, Mr. William C. Whitney. My son wishes to complete, in your city, his preparation for practice in the law. I have taken the liberty of advising my son to call upon you for the reason that I believe a few words of friendly advice from yourself would be of great value to him in fixing upon his selection of an office for further preparation. Any advice or act of courtesy you may please to extend to my son, I need not say, will ever be regarded as a great personal favor to "Your obt. Servt., "JAMES S. WHITNEY." General James E. Whitney was the father of the late William C. Whitney. At his behest, Governor Tilden was instrumental in securing for the son, then recently graduated from the Harvard Law School, the appointment of counsel for the corporation of the city and county of New York. The son subsequently became--through Mr. Tilden's aid, I believe--a very large proprietor of stock in the metropolitan railways, and later was a member of President Cleveland's Cabinet as Secretary of the Navy during that President's first term. He died in 1904. TILDEN TO S. C. BALDWIN "NEW YORK, _Nov. 17, 1864_. "MY DEAR SIR,--There are so many topics about which I desire to write you that I must touch them rapidly. "1. You and Wetmore are elected directors of the Iron Cliff. You will be entitled to the information, advice, and aid which Wetmore shall be able to give. "You must represent the company and act in all cases where it is necessary. "2. _Information._ We need direct and frequent communications with the Cliff Co. "Mr. Curtis will have more time than the rest, and his occupations will be more regular. He should write _twice a week_, giving information as to all matters concerning the operations of the co., the no. of men, the preparations to accommodate them, the work going on, etc. "From you I should like to hear as often as you are able. "Communications should be addressed S. J. Tilden, 12 Wall St., New York City. "3. Col. Foster left Mr. Ray in charge of the Tilden and Foster mines; Mr. Foote in charge of the Ogden; Mr. Curtis managing the accounts and finances, and Mr. Whitehead conducting explorations; and these gentlemen, all in the main, independent of each other. "I shall be surprised if disorganization does not develop the want of a _head_ to enforce accountability and to govern and direct. "For the time being you must assume and exercise whatever powers seem to be necessary in order to keep harmony between all these different authorities, and to see that all are working well.