"In respect to my personal health, I cannot make a very decided report, although, on the whole, I think I am improving. I am taking no tea and rarely any coffee. I substantially take no medicine internally. For a month past I have been trying electricity--the continuous current from a galvanic battery--with some apparent advantage. When you consider that the latter period of my work was passed under the aid of the borrowing power of the will, and with some help from medicine to hold my own--when these are withdrawn, is in itself a gain. The later impression is that I have taken rather too much exercise; that the malady is an exhaustion of the central nervous force by overwork and overwear, and that rest rather than physical activity is indicated. It is a problem to avoid fatigue, and yet take exercise enough to keep in order the general functions and particularly the digestion. You will see the situation does not favor very active travel or overmuch sight-seeing or sociable festivities--but I am going too much into detail and yet imperfectly. It is better to reserve opinions for a month or two longer. "Whether I can go over early enough to do much in Italy is not easy now to say. My disposition is to cross the ocean at some time in the spring. I am snugging up my affairs, and getting out of the way all business matters. Indeed, that is substantially done. "I should like to know what your own plans are for the spring and summer, or, if they have not taken definite shape, what your contemplations are. "I am not troubling myself much about business, but perceive a tendency in little things of my own and everybody else to come in and occupy the vacancy. I do not propose to indulge this tendency. * * * * * "I thank you for your suggestions in regard to the acquisition of works of art. They seem to me judicious. As to the bust of Cicero of which you sent a photograph, the important question is the authenticity of the bust. "If you can find satisfactory evidence on that point and think the purchase judicious, you may make it for me. "The fact is I have really had very little to do with the political movements which you mention--perhaps nothing at all. I do not think I have done more than to express an opinion. "There are many more things about which I would like to say, but I must reserve them until some future occasion. "Present my regards to Mrs. Bigelow and the girls, and accept them for yourself. "Very truly yours, "S. J. TILDEN." G. W. SMITH TO W. A. WILKINS "NEW YORK, _Feb. 21, 1881_. "MY DEAR SIR,--Mr. Tilden requests me to acknowledge the receipt of your two notes, and to say that he gives them the earliest attention in his power.