setting out the letter in haec verba. Our statute as I think releases the high degree of technical certainty formerly required.

I am so busy with our cause on trial here that I can not examine authorities here as fully as you can there. If after all the indictment shall be quashed it will prove that my forte is as a statesman rather than a prosecutor.

April 6th. Springfield.

(To R. M. Corwine.) Reaching home after an absence of more than two weeks, I found your letter of the 24th of March. Remembering that when a not very great man begins to be mentioned for a very great position, his head is very likely to be a little turned, I conclude I am not the fittest person to answer the questions you ask. Making due allowance for this, I think Mr. Seward is the very best candidate we could have for the North of Illinois, and the very worst for the South of it. The estimate of Governor Chase here is neither better nor worse than that of Seward, except that he is a newer man. They are regarded as being almost the same, seniority gives Seward the inside track. Mr. Bates, I think, would be the best man for the South of our State, and the worst for the North of it. If Judge McLean was fifteen or even ten years younger, I think he would be stronger than either, in our State, taken as a whole; but his great age, and the recollections of the deaths of Harrison and Taylor have, so far, prevented his being much spoken of.

I really believe we can carry the State for either of them, or for any one who may be nominated; but doubtless it would be easier to do it with some than with others.

I feel myself disqualified to speak of myself in this matter. I feel this letter will be of little value to you; but I can make it no better, under the circumstances. Let it be strictly confidential, not that there is any thing really objectionable in it, but because it might be misconstrued.

(To C. F. McNeil.) Reaching home yesterday, I found

yours of the 23rd March, inclosing a slip from the Middleport Press. It is not true that I ever charged anything for a political speech in my life; but this much is true. Last October I was requested by letter to deliver some sort of speech in Mr. Beecher's church, in Brooklyn, $200 being offered in the first letter. I wrote that I could do it in February, provided they would take a political speech if I could find time to get up no other. They agreed; and subsequently I informed them the speech would have to be a political one. When I reached New York, I, for the first time learned that the place was changed to "Cooper's Institute." I made the speech, and left for New Hampshire, where I had a son in school, neither asking for pay, nor having any offered me. Three days after, a check for $200 was sent to me at N. H.; and I took it, and did not know it was wrong. My understanding now is though I knew nothing of it at the time, that they did charge for admittance to the Cooper Institute, and they took in more than twice $200.

I have made this explanation to you as a friend; but I wish no explanation made to our enemies. What they want is a squabbie and a fuss; and that they can have if we explain; and they can not have it if we don't.

When I returned through New York from New England, I was told by the gentleman who sent me the check that a drunken vagabond in the club, having learned something about the $200, made the exhibition out of which The Herald manufactured the article quoted by the Press of your town.

My judgment is, and therefore my request is, that you give no denial, and no explanations.

14th. (To Delahay.) You know I was in New England. Some of the acquaintances I made while there write to me since the election that the close vote in Connecticut and the quasi defeat in R. I. are a drawback upon the prospects of Governor Seward; and Trumbull writes Dubois to the same effect.

Do not mention this as coming from me. Both those States are safe enough for us in the fall. I see by the despatches that since you wrote Kansas has appointed delegates and instructed them for Seward. Do not stir them up to anger, but come along to the convention, and I will do as I said about the expenses.

29th. (To Lyman Trumbull.) As you requested, I will be entirely frank. The taste is in my mouth a little; and this, no doubt, disqualifies me, to some extent, to form correct opinions. You may confidently rely, however, that by no advice or consent of mine, shall my pretensions be pressed, to the point of endangering our common cause.

A word now for your own special benefit. You better write no letters which can possibly be distorted into opposition, or quasi opposition to me. There are men on the constant watch for such things out of which to prejudice my peculiar friends against you.

While I have no more suspicion of you than of my best friend living, I am kept in a constant struggle against suggestions of this sort. I have hesitated some to write this paragraph, lest you should suspect I do it for my own benefit, and not for yours; but on reflection I conclude you will not suspect

me.

Let no eye but your own see this-not that there is anything wrong, or even ungenerous, in it; but it would be misconstrued.

May 2nd. (To James Grant Wilson.) I am greatly obliged for the volume of your friend Fitz Green Halleck's poems. Many a month has passed since I have met with anything more admirable than his lines on Burns. With Alnwick Castle, Marco Bozzaris, and Red Jacket, I am also much pleased.

It is wonderful that you should have seen and known a sister of Robert Burns. You must tell me something about her when we meet again.

(To R. M. Corwine.) I think the Illinois delegation will be unanimous for me at the start; but may be restrained by their colleagues. It is represented to me by men who ought to know, that the whole of Indiana might not be difficult to get. You know how it is in Ohio. I am certainly not the first choice there; and yet I have not heard that any one makes any positive objection to me. It is just so everywhere as far as I can perceive. Everywhere, except here in Illinois and possibly in Indiana, one or another is preferred to me, but there is no positive objection.

Attends the Republican State Convention which endorses him as the Illinois candidate for the Presidency. His friends exhibit fence rails which are said to have been made by him long before when a farm laborer, a “rail splitter."

9th. (To the Republican Convention.) Gentlemen, I suppose you want to know something about those things [pointing to old John and the rails]. Well, the truth is, John Hanks and I did make rails in the Sangamon Bottom. I don't know whether we made those rails or not; the fact is, I don't think they are a credit to the makers [laughing as he spoke]. But I do know this: I made rails then, and I think I could make better ones than these now.

18th. Nominated for President by the Republican Convention at Chicago on the third ballot through a combination of several minor groups against a major group that supported Seward

(After receiving news of the first ballot in the convention.) The despatches seem to be coming to the Journal office, by arrangement, I presume; we had better go over there. (On receiving the telegram announcing his nomination.)

I felt

sure this would come when I saw the second ballot. (In reply to the immediate suggestion that a life of him should be written.) My friend, I do not see much in my life yet to write about. (As he makes his way through a crowd of congratulatory friends.) There is a lady over yonder on Eighth Street who is deeply interested in this news; I will carry it to her.

21st. (Reply to the Committee sent by the Chicago Convention to inform him of his nomination for President.) Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Committee: I tender to you, and through you to the Republican National Convention, and all the people represented in it, my profoundest thanks for the high honor done me, which you now formally announce. Deeply and even painfully sensible of the great responsibility which is inseparable from this high honor-a responsibility which I could almost wish had fallen upon some one of the far more eminent men and experienced statesmen whose distinguished names were before the Convention-I shall, by your leave, consider more fully the resolutions of the Convention, denominated the platform, and, without any unnecessary and unreasonable delay, respond to you, Mr. Chairman, in writing, not doubting that the platform will be found satisfactory, and the nomination gratefully accepted. And now I will no longer defer the pleasure of taking you, and each of you, by the hand.

26th. (To S. P. Chase.) It gave me great pleasure to receive yours, mistakenly dated May 17. Holding myself the humblest of all whose names were before the convention, I feel in especial need of the assistance of all; and I am glad—very glad of the indication that you stand ready. It is a great consolation that so nearly all-all except Mr. Bates and Mr. Clay, I believe-of those distinguished and able men are already in high position to do service in the common cause.

(To C. B. Smith.) Yours of the 21st was duly received; but I have found no time until now, to say a word in the way of answer. I am, indeed, much indebted to Indiana; and, as