SOLON ROBINSON, 1848 157 



I fully believe that all classes of people will soon feel 

 the beneficial effects of the prosperity and confidence that 

 will fill the minds of the people during his administra- 

 tion. 



I hope I shall not be accused of visiting Gen. Taylor to 

 beg for an office, when I state that I left home nearly a 

 month before the election on a tour through the South, 

 connected with my hobby — agricultural improvement — a 

 subject upon which I found General Taylor most free to 

 converse.^ 



In truth there is but one office in his gift that I would 

 be willing to accept — and that only to help along my 

 hobby — and that I would not ask for, or even name. 



Lest you think me tedious, I will close, with assurance 

 of respect. Yours, Solon Robinson. 



^Alas for Robinson's hope! The Valparaiso Western Ranger, of 

 Februarj' 14, 1849, carried the following item from the Chicago 

 Democrat: 



"A VISIT TO General Taylor 



"Among the immense number of lean and hungry politicians who 

 have been to see Taylor to get office is the celebrated Solon Robin- 

 son of Lake County, Indiana, the greatest humbug in the North 

 West. He wants to be the Commissioner of Patents. 



"Taylor is said to have told Robinson after he had told him how 

 much he was doing in the agricultural world, as Johnson once did 

 a preacher who wanted office, *I can do nothing to take you from 

 your theatre of usefulness. You must be doing a great deal of good 

 where you are.' " 



The issue of February 21 made apology: 



"Editorial 



"An article speaking in severe terms of our friend Solon Robinson 

 accidentally found its way into our paper last week. We would 

 not urge a word against Mr. Robinson's qualifications for the office 

 to which he aspires; we believe him to be better qualified for that, 

 or any other civil office, than Gen. Taylor." 



