Correspondence (incoming) - A

San Francisco, Nov 17th, 1888 To the Honor. the United States Senator Leland Stanford [?] Illustrious Sir: - I, the undersigned, Albino Abbiati, native of the Lake of Como, Italy, by profession music composer and director of military and civil [bands?], encouraged by your exceptional personal virtues and peerless [munificence?], as attested by the colossal Leland Stanford Jr.'s University, most respectfully by the honor of submitting to your consideration by the honor of submitting to your consideration a musical project, which would be without peer in the world as the splendor of your generosity. It would not only represent a great luxury, but, what is more important, the most beautiful, [harming?] and refining of arts - a monument that would temper the heart of humanity, causing [rejoice?] to all sexes, to youth and to old age, and, at the same time, a matchless medium of charitable [munificence?], which would make your illustrious name the most beloved and blessed among men. Before proceeding to explain my project, I [deem?] necessary to justify my audacity in addressing you [like?]

[tly?], instead of depending on an influencial person. In the first place, I desire to keep the project strictly private; secondarily, I believe influence in a good cause is only needed when the party addressed is lacking of sound judgement for his own convictions, but in addressing myself to a bright intellect, [endorsed?] of a great and noble heart, I found useless an intermediary influence. I trust, also, you will pardon me for [interferring?], necessarily, with your precious time, in order to give you an idea of my professional capacity and moral standing, for the proper [engagement?]. I shall, however, be brief as possible. The honor done to me by the profession in Italy and Switzerland is amply attested by public documents yet in my hands. I was a victim of the patriotic [revolution?] 1848 for the overthrow of Austrian oppression from the beautiful land of my fathers. I reached New York in 1853. Unable to speak the English language I practiced the profession among my countrymen. I organized a band of 45 musicuans, all belonging to the artistic and to the mechanical classes. As the band was gaining

more and more the public favor in the Opera at the Academy of Music, a great [depression?] for the mechanical art took place in New York in 1855, caused by the Crimean war. Compelled to seek employment elsewhere, the majority of the musicians left the Metropolis, and the band thus dissolved. I remained in that city, supporting my family by acting as orchestral professor in the Italian Opera. In 1858 I went to Venezuela with a three year engagement with the Government of that country, for the purpose of organizing the military bands of the Republic. At the expiration of my engagement I returned to Italy. Six months after I received a letter from the Venezuelan government requesting me to return to that country because the people and the army were clamoring for my services. One hundred dollars per month were added to my salary, and I accepted. I remained in Venezuela six years. During that period [revolutions?] succeeded to [revolutions?], so that no less than four different Government took the reins of power during the time, every one of which was worst than its predecessor. I was mark their victim. They failed to fulfill

their part of the engagement. For this and other damages, I claimed an indemnity of $58,000. In 1868 the United States Government sent a Commission to Venezuela for realizing the claims of United States citizens against the Venezuelan Government. The treaty stipulations between the two Republics were binding until 1864, and it was precisely until that time that the Venezuelan Government had engaged my services. My declaration of intention to become an American citizen had been made in New York. I had also with me a certificate of my honorable discharge from the service [?] at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1853. Thus I presented myself to the United States Commissioner, Mr. Talmage. He examined all the documents [convalidating?] my claim and said certificate of discharge. His answer was that I had the right to the United Sattes protection, and to that effect he advised me to leave the documents with the [Legation?], to which I complied. When the [Mixt?] Commission was discussing my claim, a difficulty arose concerning my citizenship; but the United States Commission [a?] answered to the Commission of Venezuela these exact words: "It does not matter if Mr. Abbiati was a Frenchman,

an Italian or a Turk: he is now a citizen of the United States, and as such he is entitled to the United States protection." My claim was then reduced by the Mixt Commission to $33,000. And it lies with its respective documents at the Claims Department in Washington since 1868. I left Venezuela in December of that year for New York. In 1870 I presented a project to the Mayor of that city, Mr. Hall, for the purpose of organizing the Metropolitan bands with forty musicians for the Police Department and forty for the Fire Department, thus forming a body of eighty musicians for grand occasions. The project was approved with a great enthusiasm, and the Mayor thanked me for it in the warmest terms. The next day the "New York-Herald" published a lengthy article on the subject, congratulating the Mayor for having [appraised?] a scheme which was reflecting a great credit on the City for its artistic ornaments. The Mayor and the most prominent citizens made an appeal to the State Legislature for its approval, as it was necessary. When the project was about to be considered at Albany, the celebrated [Tweed?] robbery came to light,