with Garrison, Phillips, Giddings, and other leaders in the East, but most frequently with Theodore Parker, of Boston his ideal theologian, reformer, and orator. For years he had been an admirer of Parker, reading all his sermons and addresses, some of which he induced Lincoln to read-particularly the "Discourse Occasioned by the Death of Daniel Webster," which Lincoln thought was too severe on Webster. The eloquence of Parker was of a kind that appealed to Herndon -vehement and redundant with frequent purple patches, but bold, fearless, earnest, and vivid; for the pressure of many activities gave him little time to polish his sentences. This style was in part deliberate with Parker, especially at this period, with the intent to awaken the people. When the Nebraska Bill passed, and even before it passed, the pulpit of Music Hall became a sounding board for indignation, as before it had been for the protest against the Fugitive Slave Law, and his voice had no uncertain ring. Whereupon the western lawyer was moved to write to the great preacher, expressing his hearty sympathy, asking for books to read, and telling of the way the wind was blowing in the West. His first two letters were after this manner:

Mr. Parker.

Springfield, Ill., May 13, 1854.

one on

Sir: I wrote to you once when I first became acquainted with your writings. I then had but a few of them, I now have them all. My attachment to the sentiments is stronger. I may say I am pulled to them. A few days since I wrote to Messrs. Crosby & Nichols to send me two books spiritualism and the other on materialism—and knowing your tastes I preferred your judgment to others. I hope you will choose the two best books, and they will send. If you will send me a list of books of your taste, known for deep, rich benevolence, strong, energetic and massive language, I will send and get. I love this peculiar kind of eloquence. May I say you are my ideal-strong, direct, energetic, charitable.

Your attention to this will much oblige me. Yet, if too much trouble, do not do so. I did not in my letter to you give the proper direction - superscription-and for which I now offer apology. Yours truly,

W. H. HERNDON.

Mr. Parker.

Springfield, Ill., June 11, 1854.

Dear Sir: I received yours of May 22nd and your sermon on "Old Age." I am under many obligations to you both for letter and sermon. Let me say that I do you and Emerson, or rather truth, some good here. I have made presents of your sermons and some of Emerson's rather than not have them read. I hope you will write out your New York speech and your late Boston sermon. The country needs moving with an eloquent and enthusiastic power. If you write out and publish please send me a copy.

Yours truly, W. H. HERNDON.

What part Parker had in stirring up the people about slavery after the repeal of the Missouri Compromise is familiar to all. With astonishing assiduity he went through the Northern States, enlightening and rousing the people with ponderous lectures that were orations, sermons, arguments, historical disquisitions, harangues, all in one, winning for himself the title of "chaplain extraordinary of the anti-slavery movement.' His lecturing field touched the Southern border, and once, at least, lapped over at Wilmington, Delaware, where he was received with threats and sent away with a vote of thanks.1 Herndon wrote asking him to visit Springfield and deliver one or more lectures the following winter; and receiving no reply he wrote again:

Mr. Parker.

Springfield, Ill., Jan. 5, 1855.

Dear Sir: Some few weeks since I wrote you a short letter asking you therein some questions. The question asked was this: Can you come out here this winter and deliver us some lectures? We have a good hall and all conveniences. The letter has not been answered. It may never have reached you. . . . I know you cannot afford to come out to deliver one or two lectures at any one place, but if you can get several places you can. Please answer. W. H. HERNDON.

Yours truly,

Our Legislature is now in session. Anti-Nebraska men are all elected - those who fill the offices of speaker, clerks, etc.- a perfectly clean sweep of slaveites and rum

men.

1 Theodore Parker, by O. B. Frothingham, pp. 376-440 (1874).

But Parker was too much engaged to promise a visit, having become entangled with the courts as the result of an attempt to rescue a fugitive slave, named Anthony Burns - a kind of pastoral work which had been a feature of his ministry since 1842.1 The story of the rendition of Burns, and of Parker's efforts to prevent it, would easily fill a book; but it failed. The prisoner was marched out of Boston, over the spot where Garrison had been dragged "by gentlemen of property and standing" in 1835, while multitudes looked on, summoned by a placard written by Parker "to turn out and line the streets and look upon the shame and disgrace of Boston." Not for this, but "for obstructing, resisting, and opposing the execution of the law," Judge B. R. Curtis- who afterwards opposed the Dred Scott decision of Judge Taney-charged the grand jury to indict those who had offended. Indictments were found against Parker, Phillips, T. W. Higginson, and four others, and the hearing was set for April 3, 1855. Hence the "trial" referred to by Parker in his brief reply to Herndon:

W. H. Herndon, Esq.

Boston, Mass., Jan. 15, 1854.

Dear Sir:-Your former letter attended to in the note of the 7th inst. came to hand and was immediately answered; but mine miscarried, I suppose. It would give me great pleasure to visit Springfield (and other towns in the West), but I have no time. My "trial" takes place in March, and I make no engagements after that, for who knows where I may be! Unless we exterminate slavery there is no freedom possible. We are doing well in Massachusetts just now. Thanks to Illinois for her good heart. Yours truly,

THEO. PARKER.

1 Much of Parker's time was spent in such activities, brief references to which occur in his Journals. But for the whole story we must go to his sermons and letters, which fell like leaves from a tree. One picturesque memorial of these labors is a scrap-book, now in the Boston Public Library-"Memoranda of the Troubles Occasioned by the Infamous Fugitive Slave Law from March 15th, 1851, to February 19th, 1856,"-half of which is made up of posters, evidently written by Parker himself, warning fugitives of danger and summoning their friends to the rescue. When he spoke on this subject his words took fire and blazed like sky-rockets. Theodore Parker, by O. B. Frothingham (1874). Also Theodore Parker, Preacher and Reformer, by J. W. Chadwick (1900).

These letters-now to be interwoven with the present studycontinued to pass to and fro at varying intervals until December, 1859, when Parker broke down and became a wandering seeker after health. Excerpts from the letters of Parker appeared in his biography 1 by John Weiss in 1864, which is now out of print, but the letters of Herndon have never before been published. They have to do with the men, movements, and events, the hopes, fears, and dreams, of a critical and stormy period the period, that is, of the rise of Lincoln, of his debates with Douglas, and of his election to the Presidency and they let light behind the political and social scenes of those years, sometimes in a startling manner. Their characterizations of men are definitive and apt; their criticisms of leaders, particularly of Douglas and Greeley, are sharp, often to the point of injustice; while their prophecies of coming events are, at times, almost uncanny. Both men wrote with the freedom and abandon of private correspondence, without mincing words, and their letters, especially those of Herndon which are longer and more numerous, are valuable as revelations of themselves and their period. It is here that we discover, as only letters can disclose, what manner of man Herndon was — his crudities and refinements, his indignations, his enthusiasms, his egotism and his self sacrifice, his love of books, of nature, and of man, his swift and vivid intellect, and his heart of fire. One who reads these letters feels that Lincoln was wise when he decided to "stick by Billy Herndon," no matter what his enemies said against him.

Replying to the brief note from Parker about his trial, Herndon wrote at once expressing sympathy and assurance of victory, reporting at the same time the election of Trumbull to the Senate. He also enclosed a clipping from the Sangamon Journal, a report of his valedictory speech as mayor of Springfield, from which it appears that he had been active in behalf of municipal economy, while purchasing grounds for school buildings in each of the wards and enforcing a prohibitory ordinance against the dram-shops. He wrote:

1 Life and Correspondence of Theodore Parker, by John Weiss, in two volumes (1864).

Mr. Parker.

Springfield, Ill., Feb. 13, 1855.

Dear Sir: I am sorry you cannot come out west and lecture for us. You have, however, a good excuse. Your trial comes on in March and I hope you will attend to it as you do to all things. Blast slavery if you can aid freedom to stand erect, and with the forces of nature floating everywhere man will yet evolve goodness and develop greatness along the lines of time and in the realms of faith. I know nothing I desire more than [the] freedom and elevation of my brother man. These can never be accomplished while wrong rules; tyranny or freedom must dominate. They are now struggling. I have no fears as to which will triumph. I know.

Hope you will get good counsel and attorneys with yourself and go to trial and there have good reporters — make speeches and send out to the world for us young men to read and inhale - human rights drunk in.

During the election here and before, I took the stump and did all I could for freedom - aided the press, wrote late and early. All I wish is, that I could do it over every November of my life. I knew during the election that if the people would take their stand on their religiousness of soul that would be all right. They took that stand and Illinois stands redeemed. Douglas can no more control Illinois than a Hottentot chief can. We are free. When we can look one another in the face and talk on the question without evasion or "eye-dropping" you may know all is right. We are in that condition. I may not go as far as some, yet so far as I go I am fixed.

You are aware that Judge Trumbull is now our U. S. Senator. He was elected in place of General J. Shields. He is anti-Nebraska; anti-Douglas. He was our Judge of Supreme Court before whom I have often spoken in the capacity of lawyer. He is a good man, no demagogue, and a personal enemy of Douglas. This is more than the press can tell you. Great thorn, rough and poisonous, in the heart of Douglas. My opinion-I suppose that Trumbull has pledged himself to vote against the admission of all and

1 Herndon was, as he here says, a prolific writer of editorials, especially for the Sangamon Journal, edited by his friend, Simeon Francis. He quotes from some of them in his biography of Lincoln. (Vol. II, p. 378.) Examples of his editorial work will be given later from those hitherto unpublished. Lincoln also used the papers in the same way, anonymously, though less frequently.