"The case delayed the most was that of judge in this district. There were applicants from communities from all over the district. The appointment was made in a few hours after the last hearing was given, which it would have been an offence to refuse. I have more doubt about the delay in this case than in any other, but the result is general satisfaction. "3rd. But the _real grumble_ is from those who ask for action which is doubtful or suspicious or which is certainly wrong. "Our friend, Mr. Speaker MacGuire's grievance is this: There has been started the erection by the State of public buildings at four places beside the capital of a most extravagant character. One was the Elmira Reformatory. This was taken out of the hands of a commissioner and put in charge of an architect. Him I have the power to remove. "Soon after I came here my old acquaintance, Steve Arnot, broke in half drunk, leading in the Speaker, Charles Walker, and Senator Bradley. "He insisted that I should instantly turn out the architect and put in a man named by him. "As there was no work going on, and the change might involve questions about contracts which had been broken--new ones pending, others to be made, and would involve the whole responsibility of wisdom and frugality and honesty in the construction--I thought the Governor had better not abdicate his functions, but had better look carefully into the whole matter before he embarked himself and the party on the adventure. "The five buildings, including the capital, are popularly estimated to cost 25 or 30 millions. "I treated the matter very kindly, but deferred it. I shall continue to do that until I know enough about it to act wisely. If I change the manager it will not be for patronage (one $4000 office of an expert), but to a man in whom I can have a personal trust that he will not disgrace me. "My information is that the Democrats of Elmira and the county deprecate nothing so much as a return of the odium they have once had to bear. I had no reason to suppose there was any special discontent until it appeared. The Speaker had informed me he had introduced a bill which would make all right. "Since I have written so much more than I intended I will turn back and make it personal. "Very truly, &c. "I have omitted to mention several narrow escapes. The balance is still in favor of wariness, notwithstanding some friends get tremors." JOHN KELLY TO TILDEN "315 LEX. AVENUE, NEW YORK, _Feb. 27th, 1875_. "MY DEAR GOVERNOR,--I regret that your kind intentions were so fruitless of effect. I am pleased, however, to find that the intended appointment of McLaughlin is generally approved. I am gratified, too, that Stemmler still is in the land of the living.