Page 350 - bonsal_efbeale1912

300 Edward Fitzgerald Beale

The letters are the living memorial of a friendship which
began in California in the early fifties and which twenty
years later had a marked influence upon the course of
national affairs. Grant had the gift of friendship, and his
circle was not small ; but to the Washington of the seventies
it was no secret that of all his personal friends the one he
most admired, the one to whom he always listened (and
then did as his own good sense dictated) , was "Ned" Beale
(a grandson of the gallant Truxtun), who with Stockton
conquered California, who fought Kearny s guns in the
desperate battle of San Pasqual, who gave up active service
in the Civil War at Lincoln s request because the providen
tial President knew that Beale s presence in the debatable
State would preserve it to the Union. Beale related that he
first saw Grant in 1848 in the Casino on the Plaza of the
City of Mexico where the officers used to gather during the
American occupation. Beale was on his famous ride across
Mexico, bringing the news of the conquest of California and
the first specimens of the gold that had been newly discov
ered in the City of Mexico. He stopped for a few hours to
change horses on his route to Vera Cruz. The friendship
of Grant and Beale, however, really dates from 1853, when
Grant s army career seemed closed, and Beale, having
resigned from the navy that he might provide for his grow
ing family, was becoming interested in the wonderful
development of the Golden State, which he foresaw like a
prophet and by which he profited like a wise man.
In these days, when Grant was unfortunate, Beale stood
by his friend with both word and deed. They walked the
Long Wharf together and ate their meals at the "What
Cheer" House when San Francisco was as uncertain of its
name as of its future.
The value of these letters is enhanced by the fact that Grant
was a reserved man and a somewhat reluctant correspond
ent ; to few if to any of his circle of intimates did he open his
heart as he did to his old comrade and house-friend Beale.