Lincoln appears before the Sangamom County Circuit Court as a witness for John Close in Close v. Ritter, an appeal from John N. Moore's justice of peace court. The court affirms the judgment of the lower court, but reduces the damages from $73 to $35.Record.

[Lincoln receives $1.75 for services as witness and juror. Witnesses receive 50¢ per case per day and jurors 25¢.ISLA—Bulletin, No. 57.]

Lincoln and Bowling Green witness deed to three tracts granted by John Jones Sr. and Lydia Jones to John Jones, Jr. Sangamon County Deed Book H, 365, Illinois Regional Archives Depository, University of Illinois Springfield.

Lincoln's motion for arrest of judgment in People v. Fraim is argued, but Judge Ralston overrules it and sentences William Fraim to be hanged May 18, 1839.Record.

[Sentence is carried out.]

Lincoln writes a mortgage for Peter Rickard to William Butler and Philip C. Latham. Lincoln also witnesses the promissory note of Rickard to Butler and Latham for $516, due in 18 months, at 10 percent interest.Mortgage Deed, 25 April 1842, Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Promissory Note, 25 April 1842, IHi, Springfield, IL.

[The four-day term of the McLean County Circuit Court begins in Bloomington.]

Judge Treat opens two-day session of DeWitt Circuit Court. Lincoln's suit to collect on note for $200 given him in defending Spencer Turner for murder in 1840 is continued by consent. On Lincoln's motion, McDowall v. Duncan et al. is continued with leave to commissioners to execute order made September 29, 1843. In Peters v. Martin, for complainant, Lincoln moves continuance with leave for commissioner to execute prior decree.Record.

Imprisonment of 80 slaves who escaped on steamer docked at Georgetown provoked outburst in "National Era," abolition paper, and mob threatens to dismantle press. This precipitates heated debate in House. Finally Brown of Mississippi moves to table subject to prevent its going "to the country to a greater extent than it had already gone out." Lincoln votes aye; and motion passes 130-42.Globe.

Lincoln, having learned that Justin Butterfield of Chicago is being considered for Land Office, writes to J. M. Lucas, of Jacksonville, clerk in Land Office in Washington: "He is my personal friend, and is qualified to do the duties of the office; but of the quite one hundred Illinoisians, equally well qualified, I do not know one with less claims to it." He writes to Philo H. Thompson of Pekin, for whom he recommended T. R. King for Land Office appointment. This is giving him trouble, for King has been attacked as gambler. Abraham Lincoln to Josiah M. Lucas, 25 April 1849, CW, 2:43-44; Abraham Lincoln to Philo H. Thompson, 25 April 1849, CW, 2:44.

[DeWitt Circuit Court begins its session at Clinton.]

On opening day of Woodford Circuit Court, Lincoln is appointed guardian ad litem in John F. Fields v. Rhoda Fields et al., petition for partition. He annotates sheriff's return in Hall v. Wilson, bill to perfect title, and files demurrer, for defendant, in Traster v. Simpson, trespass. Record; Photocopy.

Lincoln, representing defendant, continues Jackson v. Whorrall on affidavit of his client and at his costs. Record.

Lincoln, associated with John Clark for defense in Willard v. Summers, writes defendant's plea. Photocopy.

Lincoln, representing defendant, wins trespass suit before jury. As solicitor for petitioner he also dismisses divorce case. Record.

He writes summary of Coventry & Warwickshire Bank v. Whorrall. Photocopy.

Davenport v. Davenport et al., petition for dower, Lincoln for defendant, is continued by agreement at cost of parties. Record.

Lincoln makes last stand in Correll et al. v. McDaniel et al., will case in which jury found against him November 30, 1855. On technical grounds, Lincoln & Herndon resist complainants' motion to enter decree, but their objections are overruled. Illinois State Journal, 27 April 1857.

Lincoln writes court order. Photocopy.

[Lincoln's statement in his letter of April 26, 1858 to Washburne—"I am here at this time, but I was home during the sitting of the two Democratic conventions"—shows he did not return to Springfield for week-end. Abraham Lincoln to Elihu B. Washburne, 26 April 1858, CW, 2:443-44.]

Lincoln collects fee for services in Patterson case in form of note for $60 from William and Golden Patterson (paid February 1866 to Lincoln's estate). Lincoln Estate Inventory.

President considers preventing Maryland Legislature from meeting and possibly arming people of that state against U.S. and concludes it would not be justifiable. Abraham Lincoln to Winfield Scott, 25 April 1861, CW, 4:344.

Secretary of the Interior Caleb B. Smith consults with Lincoln on readying Fortress Monroe, Va., preparatory to retaking Fort Sumter, S.C. Hay, Letters and Diary.

In early afternoon President, Secretary of State William H. Seward, and Secretary of War Simon Cameron review 7th New York Regiment. National Republican (Washington, DC), 26 April 1861, 3:1; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 25 April 1861, 3:1.

Labels clippings from New York "Times" of this date, "Villainous articles." Clippings, 25 April 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Sec. Welles rushes to White House to share with President news that Flag Officer David G. Farragut (USN) has taken New Orleans. Story in Richmond newspapers smuggled into Washington. West, Welles, 177.

President sends letter of condolence to King of Portugal on death of brother. Abraham Lincoln to Luiz I, 25 April 1862, CW, 5:199.

In the evening, U.S. Senator Orville Hickman Browning, of Illinois, visits President Lincoln. Browning recalled, "He was alone and complaining of head ache." Browning and Lincoln discuss poetry and, in particular, the works of English poet Thomas Hood. Lincoln recites several of Hood's poems, including "The Haunted House." Browning recollected, "His reading was admirable and his criticisms evinced a high and just appreciation of the true spirit of poetry. . . . I remained with [him] about an hour & a half, and left . . . in high spirits, and a very genial mood." Theodore Calvin Pease and James G. Randall, eds., The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, 2 vols., Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library (Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1925-1933), 1:542.

Francis L. Capen, "Certified Practical Meteorologist & Expert in Computing the Changes of the Weather," interviews Lincoln for job as weather consultant for War Dept. Memorandum Concerning Francis L. Capen's Weather Forecasts, 28 April 1863, CW, 6:190-91.

President Lincoln writes to mental health authority Dr. John P. Gray, of Utica, New York, regarding Private Lorenzo C. Stewart, whom a "military court, tried for murder, and sentenced to death, his execution awaiting the order of the President." Lincoln seeks to determine "Stewart's sanity, both at the time of the homocide, and at the time of your examination." Lincoln directs Gray to go to Elmira, New York, where Stewart is imprisoned in order to gather information and then to "report . . . to me . . . your own conclusions." Isaac F. Quinby, et al. to Abraham Lincoln, 21 April 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to John P. Gray, 25 April 1864, CW, 7:313-14.

From eastern portico of Willard's reviews Gen. Burnside's 30,000 troops en route from Annapolis, Md., to reinforce Army of Potomac. In evening Gov. Curtin (Pa.) visits White House. Lincoln discusses F. B. Carpenter's painting with him. Carpenter, Six Months, 81; Daily National Republican (Washington, DC), 25 April 1864, 2d ed., 2:4.

Sends regrets to John R. Woods, secretary of Illinois Sanitary Commission, that "I cannot be present at the inauguration of your Soldiers Home this week" in Springfield, Ill. Abraham Lincoln to John R. Woods, 25 April 1864, CW, 7:316.