Lincoln assists in defense of William D. Davis, charged with killing Henry Louthan in Coles County. Brought to Clark County on change of venue, accused is tried at special session, convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three years. Abraham Lincoln to Joel A. Matteson, 10 January 1853, CW, 2:187-88.

[About this time, Lincoln writes several pages of "Notes for a Law Lecture." Nicolay and Hay date these fragments "July 1, 1850?" "But it seems probable," says Basler, "that Lincoln wrote these observations . . . several years later." Fragment: Notes for a Law Lecture, [1 July 1850?], CW, 2:81-82.

U.S. District Court begins its Chicago session.]

"Hon. A. Lincoln of Springfield arrived in town . . . to attend to duties in the U.S. Dist. Court now in session in this city." Chicago Journal, 8 July 1850.

News reaches city that President Zachary Taylor has died in Washington. Evening meeting plans memorial service. Committee appointed to choose speaker selects Lincoln. Trial of Z. Parker v. Charles Hoyt, alleged infringement of patent on water wheel, comes to trial in U.S. District Court. Lincoln represents Hoyt. Chicago Journal, 10 July 1850.

Lincoln informally accepts invitation to deliver eulogy on President Taylor. Trial of Hoyt case continues in Federal Court. Chicago Journal, 10 July 1850.

Hoyt trial.

Hoyt trial.

Hoyt trial.

Hoyt trial.

Hoyt trial.

Hoyt trial goes into second week.

Hoyt trial. [Mrs. Lincoln buys merchandise, 50¢. Irwin Ledger.]

Hoyt trial.

Hoyt trial. [Menard County Whigs, meeting at Petersburg, adopt resolution of thanks to Lincoln for his service in Congress. Illinois Journal, 1 August 1850.]

Committee on memorial meeting for President Taylor sends Lincoln formal invitation to speak. Abraham Lincoln to Lewis C. Kercheval and Others, 24 July 1850, CW, 2:82-83.

Lincoln continues to attend court in connection with Hoyt case.

At end of second week Parker v. Hoyt is still before court.

Hoyt case is finally concluded and Lincoln, winner of long trial, formally accepts invitation to deliver eulogy on President Taylor. "The want of time for preparation will make the task for me," he writes, "a very difficult one to perform, in any degree satisfactory to others or to myself. Still I do not feel at liberty to decline the invitation; and therefore I will fix to-morrow as the time." Abraham Lincoln to Lewis C. Kercheval and Others, 24 July 1850, CW, 2:82-83.

Lincoln is in Chicago, where he delivers a eulogy for President Zachary Taylor, who died on July 9. Lincoln emphasizes Taylor's military career and remarks, "Gen. Taylor's battles were not distinguished for brilliant military manoeuvers; but in all, he seems rather to have conquered by the exercise of a sober and steady judgment, coupled with a dogged incapacity to understand that defeat was possible. . . . In Gen. Taylor's general public relation to his country, what will strongly impress a close observer, was his unostentatious, self-sacrificing, long enduring devotion to his duty." Eulogy on Zachary Taylor, 25 July 1850, CW, 2:83-90.

Lincoln complies with request from L. C. Kercheval and Richard J. Hamilton for original draft of his Taylor address. Abraham Lincoln to Lewis C. Kercheval and Richard J. Hamilton, 26 July 1850, CW, 2:91.

"Hon. A. Lincoln returned to this city on Tuesday from Chicago, where he had been attending the U.S. District court." Register, 1 August 1850.