Letters of Ulysses S. Grant to His Father and His Youngest Sister | Page 5

wrote to you last,
although I expected to have written again the next week. I can hardly
tell how the new business I am engaged in, is going to succeed, but I
believe it will be something more than a support. If I find an
opportunity next week I will send you some of our cards, which, if you
will distribute among such persons as may have business to attend to in
the city, such as buying or selling property, collecting either rents or
other liabilities, it may prove the means of giving us additional
commissions. Mr. Benton was here for some time and used to call in to
see me frequently. Whilst he was here I submitted to him some
property for sale, belonging to a Mr. Tucker. Since Mr. Benton's
departure, Mr. Tucker has called several times and wants me to submit
his propositions again, and say that if he is disposed to buy, and pay
considerable cash, he will make his prices such as to secure to him a
good investment. I enclose with this a list of the property, and prices, as
first asked, one third cash, balance one and two years. Please tell Mr.
Benton if he feels like making any proposition for any part of this

property to let me know, and I will submit it and give him an answer.
We are living now in the lower part of the city full two miles from my
office. The house is a comfortable little one, just suited to my means.
We have one spare room, and also a spare bed in the children's room,
so that we can accommodate any of our friends that are likely to come
to see us. I want two of the girls, or all of them for that matter, to come
and pay us a long visit soon.
Julia and the children are well. They will not make a visit to Kentucky
now. I was anxious to have them go before I rented, but with four
children she could not go without a servant, and she was afraid that
landing so often as she would have to do in free states, she might have
some trouble. Tell one of the girls to write soon. Has Simpson gone
South? Are you going to the city to live?
Yours truly,
U.S. GRANT.
To J.R. GRANT, ESQ., Covington, Ky.

[Orvil is the youngest brother. The appointment referred to was one for
the position of County Engineer.
Free-Soilers: "The Whig party had ceased to exist ... ; the Know
Nothing party had taken its place but was on the wane; the Republican
party was in a chaotic state and had not yet received a name. It had no
existence in the Slave States except at points on the borders next to
Free States. In St. Louis city and county what afterwards became the
Republican party was known as the Free Soil Democracy."--Memoirs.
Professorship of mathematics: When Grant left the Military Academy
he had no intention of remaining in the army. He then expected to teach
mathematics, and had already applied for such a position at West Point.
At Jefferson Barracks his chief interest was the study of higher
mathematics with the view of obtaining a professorship. The Mexican

War, however, soon drew him into active military life.
The real estate venture was unsuccessful; it was a business even then
much overcrowded. Necessity, not instability, dictated the various
experiments.]
St. Louis, Aug. 20th, 1859.
DEAR FATHER:
On last Wednesday I received your letter, and on the Monday before
one from Mr. Burk, from both of which I much regretted to learn of
Simpson's continued ill health. I at once wrote to Orvil, whose arrival at
Galena I learned from Burk's letter, to urge Simpson to come by
steamer to St. Louis and spend some time with me, and if it should
prove necessary for anyone to accompany him, I would take him home.
Cannot Jennie and Orvil's wife come this way when they start for
Galena? We would like very much to see them.
I am not over sanguine of getting the appointment mentioned in my last
letter. The Board of Commissioners, who make the appointment, are
divided,--three free soilers to two opposed,--and although friends who
are recommending me are the very first citizens of this place, and
members of all parties, I fear they will make strictly party nominations
for all the offices under their control. As to the professorship you speak
of, that was filled some time ago. And were it not, I would stand no
earthly chance. The Washington University, where the vacancy was to
be filled, is one of the best endowed institutions in the United States,
and all the professorships are sought after by persons whose early
advantages were the