In the letter herewith I confine myself to purely private matters, and will not object if it reaches the public in any proper way.

My opinion is, the President thinks Mrs.Sherman would like to come to Washington by reason of her father and brothers being there.

This is true, for Mrs.Sherman has an idea that St.Louis is unhealthy for our children, and because most of the Catholics here are tainted with the old secesh feeling.

But I know better what is to our common interest, and prefer to judge of the proprieties myself.

What I do object to is the false position I would occupy as between you and the President.
Were there an actual army at or near Washington, I could be withdrawn from the most unpleasant attitude of a "go-between," but there is no army there, nor any military duties which you with a host of subordinates can not perform.