Recognizes Joseph Lang as consul of Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg at New Orleans. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 21 June 1864, 2d ed., Extra, 2:2.

President and party, accompanied by committee of escort, leave Washington on special train at 7 A.M. for Philadelphia, to attend Great Central Fair in aid of U.S. Sanitary Commission. Webster to Lincoln, 15 June 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; LL, No. 1315.

Stop briefly at Baltimore, MD (9:00 A.M.) and Wilmington, DE (11:00 A.M.); arrive at Philadelphia and Continental Hotel about 11:30 A.M. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 17 June 1864; Daily National Republican (Washington, DC), 16 June 1864, 2d ed., 2:3; LL, No. 1315.

President leaves hotel after lunch and arrives Logan Square fairgrounds at 4:15 P.M. Responds to toast at banquet in main assembly hall of fair: "War, at the best, is terrible, and this war of ours, in its magnitude and in its duration, is one of the most terrible. . . . It has destroyed property, and ruined homes; . . . We accepted this war for an object, a worthy object, and the war will end when the object is attained. . . . I have never been in the habit of making predictions in regard to the war, but I am almost tempted to make one.—If I were to hazard it, it is this: That Grant is this evening, with General Meade and General Hancock, of Pennsylvania, and the brave officers and soldiers with him, in a position from whence he will never be dislodged until Richmond is taken." Speech at Great Central Sanitary Fair, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 16 June 1864, CW, 7:394-96; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 17 June 1864, 3d ed., Extra, 1:6.

General Wallace, Edward Everett, and others speak, following President's address. Several presents, including silver medal from ladies of fair, accepted by Lincoln with words of appreciation. President leaves fair for Union League Club in torchlight procession, without committee assigned to escort him. Speaks briefly at Union League Club in response to welcome by Daniel Dougherty, prominent Philadelphia lawyer and political orator. After reception by members of club, speaks again from front steps. LL, No. 1315; Speech Accepting Medal Presented by Ladies of the Fair, 16 June 1864, CW, 7:396-97.

Near midnight returns to hotel, where crowd insists upon an appearance. Speaks from balcony: "I attended the Fair at Philadelphia to-day in the hope that possibly it might aid something in swelling the contributions for the benefit of the soldiers in the field, . . . I thought I might do this without impropriety. It did not even occur to me that a kind demonstration like this would be made to me. . . . I have really appeared before you now . . . to show to you that I am not wanting in due consideration and respect for you, when you make this kind of demonstration in my honor." LL, No. 1315; Speech at Hotel Continental, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 16 June 1864, CW, 7:398.

Unable to accept invitation to occupy reserved boxes at Arch Street Theatre in evening. Drew to Lincoln, 15 June 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Transmits to Senate further report and papers relative to Mexican affairs. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 16 June 1864, CW, 7:394.