"You also state that you would like to know if I could tell you why Judge Abbott refused to allow of the publication in his lifetime. I know of none except the fact that the document was never signed. Some years afterwards, when Mr. Abbott was at Washington, he expressed to me a regret that the document which he had prepared had not been signed and published.[19] "I am very respectfully yours, "STEPHEN J. FIELD." [19] For a copy of the protest referred to in the preceding letter, see Bigelow's _Life of Tilden_, Vol. II., Appendix A. The following letter, received in reply to one addressed to its writer by Mr. George W. Smith, one of the executors and trustees of Mr. Tilden's estate, gives the substance of a very important statement bearing upon the election for President in Louisiana in '76, the authorship of which statement, however, is suppressed in compliance with the request and for the reasons assigned by the one who heard it. As the gentleman, whose name is here left blank, has long been dead, it is permissible to say that he was quite the most prominent Republican politician in Louisiana at the time the statement purports to have been made. A. M. WILCOX TO G. W. SMITH "BRIGHTON, ENGLAND, _April 19th, '94_. "DEAR MR. SMITH,--Your letter of April 4th came this morning, having been forwarded from home. "The letter you speak of is not in existence, having been destroyed when I broke up my home ten years ago. It was not from Kellogg, but from ----. That part referring to the election read about as follows: "'You ask as to the election. Tilden carried the State by 9 to 14,000 (I am not positive as to the figures, either may be wrong), but this will be overcome in some way; how has not as yet been decided, but you can be certain the State will be returned for Hayes.' "I cannot be mistaken as to the substance of his letter, as it made a deep impression on me at the time. Had it not been personal and _confidential_, I should have given it publicity at the time. "In case Mr. Bigelow should make any use of it--the information--kindly see that he avoids using ----'s name for the reasons above given. "I sincerely regret I cannot produce the letter itself or make a more satisfactory reply to your inquiry. "Mrs. Wilcox formerly resided in Louisiana, and ---- was a frequent guest at her father's house, which explains the frankness of his answer to her letter asking for information in the matter. "With my best wishes to you. "Very truly, "A. M. WILCOX." WILLIAM BIGLER TO TILDEN "CLEARFIELD, PA., _Jan. 24th, 1877_.