amount of the city’s money has been permitted to pass into the hands of some one or more brokers or bankers doing business on Third Street, and that said brokers or bankers have since met with financial difficulties, whereby, and by reason of the above generally, the interests of the city are likely to be very seriously affected.

I have therefore to request that you will promptly advise me of the truth or falsity of these statements, so that such duties as devolve upon me as the chief magistrate of the city, in view of such facts, if they exist, may be intelligently discharged.  Yours respectfully,

     Jacob Borchardt, Mayor of Philadelphia.

     Office of the treasurer of the city of Philadelphia

     Hon.  Jacob Borchardt.  October 19, 1871.

Dear sir,—­I have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 21st instant, and to express my regret that I cannot at this time give you the information you ask.  There is undoubtedly an embarrassment in the city treasury, owing to the delinquency of the broker who for several years past has negotiated the city loans, and I have been, since the discovery of this fact, and still am occupied in endeavoring to avert or lessen the loss with which the city is threatened.  I am, very respectfully, George W. Stener.

     Office of the mayor of the city of Philadelphia

     George W. Stener, ESQ., October 21, 1871. 
     City Treasurer.

Dear sir—­Under the existing circumstances you will consider this as a notice of withdrawal and revocation of any requisition or authority by me for the sale of loan, so far as the same has not been fulfilled.  Applications for loans may for the present be made at this office.  Very respectfully,

     Jacob Borchardt, Mayor of Philadelphia.

And did Mr. Jacob Borchardt write the letters to which his name was attached?  He did not.  Mr. Abner Sengstack wrote them in Mr. Mollenhauer’s office, and Mr. Mollenhauer’s comment when he saw them was that he thought they would do—­that they were very good, in fact.  And did Mr. George W. Stener, city treasurer of Philadelphia, write that very politic reply?  He did not.  Mr. Stener was in a state of complete collapse, even crying at one time at home in his bathtub.  Mr. Abner Sengstack wrote that also, and had Mr. Stener sign it.  And Mr. Mollenhauer’s comment on that, before it was sent, was that he thought it was “all right.”  It was a time when all the little rats and mice were scurrying to cover because of the presence of a great, fiery-eyed public cat somewhere in the dark, and only the older and wiser rats were able to act.