Gov. Joseph Duncan is sworn in and delivers address to Senate and House. He favors system of common schools, but unlike Gov. Ewing, favors canal rather than railroad between Illinois River and Chicago. He is noncommittal on state bank. Lincoln votes nay on printing 5,000 copies of governor's address.House Journal.

Lincoln attends opening of Eleventh General Assembly. He is nominated by Whigs for speaker, but beaten on fourth ballot by W. L. D. Ewing of Fayette. Six members are absent—three Whigs, one Conservative, two Democrats. Lincoln gets 38 votes out of 85 on four ballots.House Journal.

Lincoln is admitted to practice in U.S. Circuit Court by Judge Pope.Record.

Lawyers in attendance are Logan, Breese, Butterfield, Baker, Gatewood, Field, Williams, Cole, Douglas, Levi Davis, G. T. M. Davis, Foreman, and some 20 others.Quincy Whig, 14 December 1839.

In Circuit Court, Harrison v. Hart et al. is submitted to Judge William Thomas of First Judicial District, by agreement. Logan and Baker represent complainant, Lincoln and Campbell defendants. In Spear et al. v. Newton & Newton, court orders auditor to pay complainant, Lincoln's client, $820.39 and defendant $350.Record.

No roll calls are taken, so it is not known if Lincoln attends legislature, where he is appointed to special committee with Gillespie and Bissell to negotiate loan from state bank to pay interest due January 1, 1841.Quincy Whig, 19 December 1840.

Six cases are won by default by Logan & Lincoln on last day of term. Whitney v. Taylor et al. comes up for fifth time this term. By agreement, injunction is made perpetual and defendant is to pay costs. Court awards Matthew Rogers, Lincoln's client, land in payment of notes held of Francis and Sandford in uncontested case of Rogers v. Francis et al.Record.

Logan & Lincoln appear in the U.S. District Court as solicitors of William L. Wilmans. Judge Pope grants the bankruptcy petition and sets March 6, 1843, for final hearing in In re Wilmans.Record.

Lincoln writes and signs assignment of errors in Rysinger and Nye v. Cheney (SC).Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

In People v. Ammai Merrill, indictment for giving payment in counterfeit coin, jury finds defendant guilty; he is sentenced to three years. Lincoln, Herndon, and Robbins appear for defendant. Record.

Lincoln writes affidavit in People v. Lane. Photocopy.

Lincoln writes to David A. Smith, who represents the St. Louis Perpetual Insurance Company. Smith seeks Lincoln's help in collecting money that U.S. Senator Stephen A. Douglas owes to the company. Lincoln explains, "This is my first day at this place, & on reaching here I found your letter in relation to your business with Douglass. I met him afterwards, but disliking to dunn him at the first meeting with him, I let it pass . . . I will attend to it shortly however & write you." Account Book, 10 November 1847, Private Collection; Abraham Lincoln to David A. Smith, 3 December 1847, CW, 1:416.

[Federal courts convene in Springfield. Illinois Journal.]

Lincoln and Johnston take oath prescribed in act of legislature of June 22, 1852, whereby they were appointed commissioners to hear canal claims (see November 2, 1852). Edwin S. Leland, judge of Ninth Circuit, administers oath. Illinois Reports, 1853, No. 9.

Lincoln & Herndon win two cases by default. The first, Hazlett et ux. v. Drennan et al., is partition suit; second, McDaniel et al. v. McDaniel, involves dower right. Record.

[Third week of Sangamon Circuit Court commences. Regular term is extended two weeks in effort to clear docket.]

Two of Lincoln & Herndon's cases are tried by court. In McConnell & Hoppin v. Young, appeal from justice of peace, court finds for plaintiff in sum of $35.96. Roll v. Wochner, appeal, court takes under advisement. In both cases Lincoln and his partner appear for defendants. Record.

Lincoln reaches Leavenworth in early afternoon. Procession meets him and escorts him to Mansion House. Crowd gives "three long and loud cheers" for Lincoln. In evening he speaks at Stockton's Hall. Chicago Tribune, 7 December 1859, 9 December 1859; Remarks upon Arriving at Leavenworth, Kansas, 3 December 1859, CW, 3:497; Speech at Leavenworth, Kansas, 3 December 1859, CW, 3:497-502.

Joshua R. Giddings, Ohio abolitionist, has long interview with Lincoln. "Mr. Lincoln keeps himself fully posted as to the conditions of the money market. Mr. Dubois, the State Auditor . . . furnishes him constantly such information as enables him to understand the strange capers of your bulls and bears." N.Y. Herald, 9 December 1860.

Secretary John G. Nicolay present's President's Annual Message to both houses of Congress. In the Senate, the clerk reads the message: "In the midst of unprecedented political troubles, we have cause of great gratitude to God for unusual good health, and most abundant harvests. . . . A disloyal portion of the American people have, during the whole year, been engaged in an attempt to divide and destroy the Union. . . . The Union must be preserved, and hence, all indispensable means must be employed. We should not be in haste to determine that radical and extreme measures, which may reach the loyal as well as the disloyal, are indispensable. The inaugural address at the beginning of the Administration, and the message to Congress at the late special session, were both mainly devoted to the domestic controversy out of which the insurrection and consequent war have sprung. Nothing now occurs to add or subtract, to or from, the principles or general purposes stated and expressed in those documents. . . . It continues to develop that the insurrection is largely, if not exclusively, a war upon the first principle of popular government—the rights of the people. . . . The struggle of today, is not altogether for today—it is for a vast future also." ["Schedule A" printed with Annual Message contains report on President's form letter to chaplains. See also Lincoln to Magrath, October 30, 1861.] In the House, the message is referred to the Committee of the Whole and ordered to be printed. Annual Message to Congress, 3 December 1861, CW, 5:35-54; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 3 December 1861, 3:2-6.

President recommends to Congress that $9,500 be paid owner of French brig "Jules et Marie" for damage done by U.S.S. "San Jacinto." Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 3 December 1862, CW, 5:539.

White House detectives arrest Francis X. Rabstock for annoying President. Washington Chronicle, 4 December 1862.

Mrs. Lincoln sends bouquet to Mrs. Fox. Fox, Diary, Gist-Blair Family Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President ill with mild varioloid. "We are glad to say that he is in a fair way for speedy recovery." Evening Star (Washington, DC), 3 December 1863, 2d ed., 2:4.

[Mrs. Lincoln arrives at Metropolitan Hotel, New York, in evening. Helm, Mary, 234.]

President orders that war steamer "Funayma Solace" "should not be allowed to proceed to Japan," and Secretary of Navy is authorized to buy it. Order Concerning the Steamer Funayma Solace, 3 December 1864, CW, 8:131-32.

Talks with Noah Brooks about people speculating on appointment of S. P. Chase to be chief justice. Noah Brooks, "Personal Reminiscences of Lincoln," Scribner's Monthly 15 (1877/1878):677.

Reads next Annual Message at special cabinet meeting. Welles, Diary.

Indianapolis "Sentinel" calls attention to fact that Robert Lincoln is still not in uniform. Harper, Press, 331.

[Irwin withdraws $50 from Lincoln's account in Springfield Marine Bank. Pratt, Personal Finances, 178.]

Orders release of husbands of Tennessee ladies who had visited him December 1, 1864 and yesterday. Story Written for Noah Brooks, [6 December 1864], CW, 8:154-55.