'Wendell,' 25 vols.; Cowen,' 9 vols.; 'Paige,' 7 vols., and Johnson,' 20 vols., which, with a few I have already, comprise the reports of this State, except some half a dozen less important ones which I allowed an acquaintance to take at a very low price. These works are in higher demand, and usually bring nearer the bookstore price than any other books; and they are the most indispensable.

"I have attended all the auctions for some years, and I give a schedule of comparative prices.

"I never knew more than one set sell at these low prices at the same time. Of course the books are, some of them, soiled. I should not have bought them just now if the chance had not been one which ought not to be allowed to pass.

"I believe that I could take at least $50 from the bookseller for my purchase; nevertheless I am extremely reluctant to lay out so much money in these times (between $190 and $200), and I wanted to pay up what I had drawn from Pinneo rather than draw more. He is in so easy a condition that it will produce not the least inconvenience. One-half, or nearly, I think I can reimburse during the next two days. There was $20 on a note I gave him from Aaron, and I yesterday got another of $60 having thirty days to run. I shall try the harder to get it out of

This last set I bought on a pure speculation. I have it already. The next lowest purchase I ever knew was the set I bought last year. This I can make answer me as cash at fifty or sixty-five per cent. advance, for books which never get into the auction-room.

Aaron, which I may do by taking and collecting notes. He seems disposed to pay as fast as he can, but is much embarrassed. I expect $15 or $20 this week of my professional earnings, though I have to advance for costs and have expenses to pay incident to commencing in business. Still I should like $100 if you have it to spare. If you have not, but can remit any current funds to P. to lie in deposit without use, to keep up the bank account, it would be very well.

"I may need a little more help, but I will do with as little as I can. This moving may make it necessary for

me to have bookcases a little sooner than I otherwise should.

९

"I am as well as common. I have nothing to do with politics except in the time I was helping the Post,' which was a special exception; otherwise I meddle no more than is compatible with, if not conducive to, professional suc

cess."

On the 10th of April of this year Mr. Tilden's father died. Of this event there is no trace in his correspondence, except that his domestic letters in future were addressed uniformly to his mother. This event threw the young barrister, more than ever before, upon his own resources; for, till now, the father had been not only his confidant in every thing, but his advice seems to have been sought and given in reference to every detail of the son's life with a freedom and fulness very unusual even in the most united families.

Mr. Elam Tilden was a man of enlarged views, of excellent judgment, of pure character, a devoted father and husband, and naturally enjoyed great personal authority with his neighbors. He had always taken an active interest in politics, but not for its rewards. He was at one time postmaster at New Lebanon, and was several times elected a supervisor; but, with abundant influence at Albany and at Washington, he never was a candidate for any office either of honor or of profit, a feature of his character which no doubt contributed largely to beget the great respect always

shown for his views by many of the leading statesmen of his party.

Only a few months before his death he received a letter from Senator Wright of such pathetic interest that we need offer no apology for inserting it here. It is in reply to a letter Mr. Elam Tilden had written to President Van Buren, suggesting the nomination of Mr. Wright for governor.

SILAS WRIGHT TO ELAM TILDEN.

"MY DEAR SIR:

"WASHINGTON, 3 July, 1840.

"The President did me the favor to give me, last evening, the perusal of a letter from you to him, and inasmuch as my name was mentioned in it too kindly, I feel bound to improve a moment of leisure to write to you upon the subject. I have been long since advised that some of my too partial friends have felt an anxiety that my name shall be placed before the people of the State as a candidate for the office of governor.

"It would be as unnatural as it would be unjust that I should not acknowledge my grateful feelings towards those who have manifested this high sense of my capabilities, and it pains me to be compelled to declare that I am conscious my friends have overrated me in this instance. I further verily believe that, at the present time, and in the present state of the public mind in certain portions of our State, I should not be as strong a candidate for this important office as many others who are named as candidates. I have not time, however, to discuss this last question with you, even if it would be proper for me to do it, and I certainly cannot discuss the question of my own capacity and qualifications.

"There are other reasons, however, of a private character, which forbid that I should be a candidate for governor, and those I am bound to give to my friends, and I give them to you with the fullest confidence that your fair mind will appreciate them.

I have been, as you know, in public life almost since I became a man of business at all. I was not worth $500 in the world when I was elected to the Senate of our State