the auld

accomplish this by addressing you a letter. It is now lang syne" since we first met; but to save all unpleasant feelings, I was then much older than yourself. You captivated me at once, & I have ever since remained faithful & true, & am now, in my old age, your devoted friend. I should be a happy, as I am a contented man, were it not for the calamities of the Country. Still, I enjoy the consciousness that for many years I warned my countrymen of the approaching danger; & during my administration I did every thing in my power to preserve the Union. Until I began to write history, I never fully appreciated the part which those called the Douglas Democrats had in hastening the catastrophe. Had they at Charleston simply consented to recognize the decision of the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case, the Democratic party would not have been divided. This was all on which the Southern Delegates insisted. They said truly that it made no difference to them in point of fact whether slavery was abolished in the territories by Act of Congress, according to the Republican creed, or by an Act of the Territorial Legislature, according to the creed of Squatter Sovereignty. The Delegation from New York, headed by Dean Richmond, by their refusal to submit to the constitutional laws of the land as declared by the Supreme Court, committed a fatal blunder. It would be curious to speculate what might have been the present condition of the Country, had the Fernando Wood, instead of the Dean Richmond Delegates been admitted at Charleston. Still, all this affords no excuse for the conduct of the secessionists, & for their attack on Fort Sumter.

I have been twice disappointed in not seeing Prince John. He is now, I perceive, figuring extensively in politics, & I trust successfully. He is able, eloquent, witty, & eccentric. He sometimes carries too much sail for his ballast; but I like him very much. Why cannot he & Judge Roosevelt take a run to Wheatland? How much good it would do me to see them!

I have not heard from our much valued friend, Augustus Schell, for a long time.

Is it not strange that among a population so numerous & so intelligent & enterprising as ours, the war has not yet produced one great General? McClellan is the best among them, unless it may be Rosecrans. During the French Revolution there sprang up, often from the ranks, Generals of the first order,

possessing dash & strategy & capable of conducting a war of invasion in the most efficient manner.

I sometimes hear of Lady Ouseley through Miss Lane. I rejoice that her daughter is so well married, & shall ever hear of her health & prosperity with the greatest satisfaction. When you write, please to remember me to her in the kindest terms. member me, also, kindly to Sir William.

Miss Lane feels the death of her brother very sensibly.

Re

It would require much ingenuity to reconcile the apparently conflicting statements of Mr. Mercier and Mr. Seward. These will not, I think, lead to any serious consequences. The difficulty has arisen from the modern practice of publishing indiscriminately diplomatic correspondence.

Please to remember me kindly to the Judge, & believe me ever to be respectfully and affectionately Your friend,

MRS. J. J. ROOSEVELT.

TO MR. CAPEN.1

JAMES BUCHANAN.

WHEATLAND, February 23, 1863.

MY DEAR SIR:

I have received yours of the 16th instant and I can scarcely tell you how much obliged I feel for it and the enclosed papers. In consequence of your information, I have been able to find everything I sought.

I feel how important it would be for myself to publish a collection of my speeches on the different subjects to which you refer, and especially on slavery; but I am too old and too lazy to undertake the task. There are a few of these speeches which might be useful to the country when they reach the point of examining seriously the acts of the present administration outside of the war.

1 Curtis's Buchanan, II. 604.

Miss Lane and myself were highly gratified with your last interesting visit. You became more like a member of the little family than ever before. The information of which you possess so inexhaustible a store was communicated in a familiar manner, and we enjoyed your conversation very much. How delighted we should always be to see you; but your distance forbids the hope that we can often enjoy this pleasure.

Miss Lane left me on Tuesday last on a visit to her Uncle Edward near Philadelphia. I sent your letter after her.

I wish I had some news to communicate which might prove interesting to you. I know nothing of this kind for the present, and to speculate concerning the future in the terrible condition of our country would be vain labor.

From your friend, very respectfully,

NAHUM CAPEN, ESQ.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

MY DEAR SIR/

TO MR. LEIPER.'

WHEATLAND 19 March 1863.

I have received your favor of the 12th Instant, & always rejoice to hear of your good health & prosperity.

I have been absent for a few days on a visit to a friend in Chester County; & on my return home I was rejoiced to find Governor Porter. We passed a very pleasant time together, talking of old times, & of the present as well as the past.

Miss Lane has not been at home for several weeks. She has been on a visit to her uncle & his family at Oxford Church. I wish I had some news to communicate which would be

interesting to you. I have almost ceased to speculate upon the future condition of our Country, & yet I entertain much hope

1 Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 604.

that all will yet be well. I cannot entertain the idea of a division. of the Union. May God, in His good Providence, restore it! From your friend as ever

HON: GEORGE G. LEIPER.

JAMES BUCHANAN.

MY DEAR HARRIET/

TO MISS LANE.'

WHEATLAND, 20 March, '63.

I send you a letter just received from Mrs. Roosevelt, in the very condition it came to hand; & yet I scarcely believe it has been violated. The envelope directed to me was open just as I

send it.

The talented & faithful Spencer will soon deliver a lecture on Temperance. He has invited the girls to attend & promised to procure them tickets. That it will be able & eloquent you will not doubt.

Two or three days ago I received a letter from old Mary Wall. She writes to me, she says, because Miss Hetty & yourself have been married & left Wheatland. Who are the happy & well governed husbands she does not mention. Poor old thing, she must be in a forlorn condition. I have enclosed her letter to Dr. Blake & requested him to inquire into her situation. Miss Hetty says she might probably be admitted into Christ Church Hospital in West Philadelphia. She is, I believe, a good Episcopalian & has several hundred dollars if any body would take the trouble of collecting it for her. I sincerely pity her. Please to return the enclosed to brother Edward.

chases, Miss Hetty says, have all arrived.

With love to all, yours affectionately,

MISS LANE.

Your pur

JAMES BUCHANAN.

1 Buchanan Papers, private collection. Inaccurately printed in Curtis's Buchanan, II. 605.

TO DR. BLAKE.1

MY DEAR SIR/

WHEATLAND 21 March 1863.

I am much indebted to you for the Daily Globe of April, '62, containing your letter to the Editor. I was not aware that this had been published by Mr. Rives, & I think you were, also, ignorant of it. But it is just the thing.

I enclose you a letter which I have received from Mary Wall. Pray keep it a profound secret that Miss Lane & Miss Hetty have both been married. I should like to know who are their husbands. I pity the old woman & would cheerfully contribute to her wants; but I cannot pay her expenses to England. Besides, she would be in greater want & misery there than she is here. There is an excellent Episcopal Institution for such persons in Philadelphia; & I think through the influence of Miss Lane she might obtain a home in it. What property has she? I cannot make this out from her letter. Is she a member in full communion with the Episcopal Church? Miss Hetty thinks she is. Miss Harriet has been absent for some time. From your benevolent heart I know you will take pleasure in answering these questions. Above all, do not let the old woman know anything of the Episcopal Institution, lest she might be disappointed. I do not know that they would charge her anything for her living; but if they should, it would be a trifle. If she had anything to give, this might facilitate her admission.

I very often think most affectionately of you & other friends in Washington. But why should I tax their time by asking them to write answers to letters of mine containing no news? Correspondence ought to be an interchange of equivalents between friends. I have no news to give, & to write letters on the beauty of virtue & on the fitness of things to those who are already virtuous & are just what they ought to be, would be a vain labor. I wish I had something to communicate which might provoke a long letter from you in reply. My life is tranquil & monotonous, although I see much company, especially from my own State. Ere a month, I shall enter my 72d year, should I live so long, &

1 Buchanan Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Curtis's Buchanan, II. 605.