Lincoln writes to Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania inquiring as to prospects in that state. "The news we are receiving here now, by letters from all quarters is steadily on the rise; we have none lately of a discouraging character."Abraham Lincoln to Thaddeus Stevens, 3 September 1848, CW, 2:1.

National Intelligencer announces that Whigs will hold mass meeting at "their Platform" at 7 P.M. to celebrate anniversary of defense of Fort Harrison, "the first of the glorious achievements of the gallantZachary Taylor." J. E. Brady of Pennsylvania, A. Lincoln of Illinois, J. M. S. Causin, T. F. Bowie, T. G. Duckett and Z. C. Lee of Maryland, and L. F. Tasistro of New York are expected to speak.

About this date Lincoln and family leave Washington for speaking tour in New England. He travels to Baltimore over Baltimore and Ohio and from there to New York over four roads subsequently incorporated into Pennsylvania system. From New York he probably takes boat to Norwich, and proceeds to Worcester over Worcester Railroad.John W. Starr, Lincoln and the Railroads: A Biographical Study (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1927), 49-51.

Lincoln speaks at city hall.Speech at Worcester, Massachusetts, 12 September 1848, CW, 2:1-5.

"He has a very tall and thin figure, with an intellectual face, showing a searching mind, and a cool judgment," reports Boston Advertiser, September 14, 1848. "He spoke in a clear and cool, and very eloquent manner, for an hour and a half, carrying the audience with him in his able arguments and brilliant illustrations."

Lincoln and others speak briefly from stand near railroad station. Worcester Spy. He attends Whig state convention, and is guest at large dinner given by Levi Lincoln, former governor of Massachusetts.Beveridge, Abraham Lincoln, 1:474.

In evening Lincoln speaks at Liberty Hall. "Lincoln and the New Haven and the Boston and Albany Railroads,"Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin No. 33.

Lincoln addresses Boston Whig Club. "He defended General Taylor from the charge that he had no principles. . . . He pointed out the absurdity of men who professed Whig principles supporting Van Buren, with all his Locofocoism, while the Whigs were as much opposed to the extension of slavery as were the Van Buren party. . . . It was a glorious meeting."Speech at Boston, Massachusetts, 15 September 1848, CW, 2:5.

"The Whigs of Lowell had one of the tallest meetings on Saturday night that they have yet held. The large City Hall was crowded in every part. The meeting was addressed by Hon. Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, and George Woodman, Esq., of Boston. . . . The work goes bravely on."Speech at Lowell, Massachusetts, 16 September 1848, CW, 2:6; Boston Atlas, 16 September 1848.

"The Hon. Abram Lincoln, of Illinois, and the Hon. Geo. Lunt, of Boston, will address the citizens of Dorchester on Monday evening next, Sept. 18, at Richmond Hall," announces Boston Atlas, 16 September 1848.

"The Whigs of Chelsea last night held one of those meetings which do good to the inner man. The Hon. Abraham Lincoln made a speech, which for aptness of illustration, solidity of argument, and genuine eloquence, is hard to beat."Boston Atlas, 20 September 1848.

Lincoln attends Whig ratification meeting at Dedham in afternoon, and speaks at Cambridge in evening. "Mr. Lincoln . . . is a capital specimen of a `Sucker' Whig, six feet at least in his stockings, and every way worthy to represent that Spartan band of the only Whig district in poor benighted Illinois," writes one of his Cambridge hearers in Boston Atlas (September 22, 1848).

"Mr. Lincoln is well versed in the political tactics of the Western country. His speech was full of humor, and was mainly devoted to the political course of Mr. Van Buren and the Free Soil party. He said very little about Cass."Taunton Gazette, 23 September 1848; Speech at Taunton, Massachusetts, [21?] September 1848, CW, 2:6-9.

Whigs hold huge mass meeting at Tremont Temple. Seward is principal orator. He is followed by Lincoln who "spoke about an hour, and made a powerful and convincing speech. . . . The audience then gave three hearty cheers for `old Zack,' three more for Governor Seward, and three more for Mr. Lincoln, and then adjourned; thus ended one of the best meetings ever held in this good Whig city."Boston Atlas, 23 September 1848.

Lincoln congratulates Seward on his speech. "I have been thinking about what you said in your speech. I reckon you are right. We have got to deal with this slavery question, and got to give more attention to it hereafter than we have been doing."William H. Seward, Autobiography of William H. Seward, edited by Frederick W. Seward, vol. 1 of Seward at Washington (New York: Derby & Miller, 1891), 79-8on.

He then starts on his journey home.Boston Atlas, 25 September 1848.

Lincoln takes Boston and Worcester Railroad to Worcester where he boards Western Railroad, which takes him to State Line. From there he travels over Albany and West Stockbridge Railroad to Albany. From Albany he travels over various roads—now parts of New York Central—to Buffalo, and Niagara Falls. From Buffalo he takes steamer Globe to Detroit.John W. Starr, Lincoln and the Railroads: A Biographical Study (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1927), 52-56.

Lincoln meets Thurlow Weed, Whig editor, and they call on Millard Fillmore, Whig candidate for Vice President.Joseph F. Newton, Lincoln and Herndon (Cedar Rapids, IA: Torch Press, 1910), 36; Galaxy, XI, 247.

Learning that steamer Globe will soon leave for Chicago, Lincoln books passage. He visits Niagara Falls, with family, who rejoined him probably in late July, and is so impressed by volume of water, roar, mist, and rainbows, that he begins scientific essay on the tremendous natural phenomenon, abandoning it after several pages.Fragment: Niagara Falls, [c. 25-30 September 1848], CW, 2:10-11.