"Mr. McKnight is confessedly an excellent officer, serving the government with fidelity and skill; and is personally free from every objection. "Under these circumstances, I take the liberty of appealing to you for an intimation in favor of the retention of Mr. McKnight, or his promotion to a higher grade in the service. "The Democratic party of the United States have beheld, with indignation, the chief agents in the frauds, perjuries, and forgeries by which a pretext of documentary evidence was furnished on which to base a false count, rewarded by their appointment in numerous cases to most important civil trusts. "It would scarcely be anticipated that a Democratic administration should have so little sympathy with, or respect for the popular feeling on this subject as to discard a meritorious officer having the peculiar claim to its recognition which the facts I have narrated show Mr. McKnight to possess. "I have no personal interest in the matter, but consider it my duty to represent the cause of public justice, to the end that the crime against the people consummated in 1876, and again meditated in 1884, shall never be repeated. "I trust that you will excuse me for calling your attention to what might otherwise escape your observation. "Very truly yours." D. A. McKNIGHT TO S. J. TILDEN "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, "WASHINGTON, _October 24, 1885_. "HON. SAML. J. TILDEN. "MY DEAR SIR,--A few moments ago I received the two letters which you were good enough to write at my request. I am, as you may surmise, very highly gratified with them. They contain all (and more than all) that I had hoped for, and must certainly accomplish their purpose. And I assure you that I am full of gratitude to you for an interest in my affairs which gives me fresh courage, and which shows me again the great heart that inspired these letters. I only wish that I could thank you in adequate terms, or that I could again _do something_ to exhibit the warm personal regard for you into which my original esteem has developed. If the day ever comes that I can be of service to you, command me. "With my kindest regards and warmest wishes for your health and happiness, I am, "Very respectfully and truly, "Your obedient servant, "D. A. MCKNIGHT." MARSHALL PARKS TO S. J. TILDEN "NORFOLK, VA., _14 Dec., '85_. "HON. S. J. TILDEN, GREYSTONE, N. Y. "MY DEAR SIR,--Your letter to Hon. Mr. Carlisle on the subject of our coast defences has been published in our papers, and I can assure you were read with great interest.