In response to proposal that he take young man into his office as student, Lincoln writes James T. Thornton: "I am absent altogether too much to be a suitable instructor for a law-student. When a man has reached the age that Mr. Widner has, and has already been doing for himself, my judgment is, that he reads the books for himself without an instructer. That is precisely the way I came to the law." Abraham Lincoln to James T. Thornton, 2 December 1858, CW, 3:344.

John T. Stuart, one of the plaintiffs' attorneys in the U. S. Circuit Court case of Cochran & Hall v. Camp et al., writes and signs a notice informing the defendants that he will obtain the depositions of some witnesses in the case. Lincoln & Herndon are two of the attorneys representing the various defendants in a dispute over the title to some U. S. Government land warrants. Lincoln endorses the notice and writes, "It is hereby agreed that the testimony of the above witnesses may be taken upon oral interrogatories by the parties or their agents without filing any written interrogatories." He signs the document "Lincoln & Herndon for Defts." Notice, Agreement, 7 December 1858, Cochran & Hall v. Camp et al., Record Group 21, case file 5; Bill for Conveyance, filed 25 August 1855, Cochran & Hall v. Camp et al., Record Group 21, case file 5, both in U.S. Circuit Court, Southern District of Illinois, National Archives and Records Administration, Great Lakes Region, Chicago, IL.

Lincoln replies to letter of consolation from H. D. Sharpe: "I think we have fairly entered upon a durable struggle as to whether this nation is to ultimately become all slave or all free, and though I fall early in the contest, it is nothing if I shall have contributed, in the least degree, to the final rightful result." Abraham Lincoln to H. D. Sharpe, 8 December 1858, CW, 3:344.

Lincoln & Herndon file documents for plaintiff Peter Ambos in two related cases that are scheduled to be heard during the U.S. Circuit Court's January term. In the case of Ambos v. James A. Barret & Co., Lincoln & Herndon file promissory notes, a declaration, and a praecipe. Ambos, the Treasurer of the Columbus Machine Manufacturing Company, located in Ohio, alleges that the defendants failed to repay several promissory notes that they issued to the plaintiff. Ambos seeks $15,000 in damages. In the case of Ambos v. Barret et ux., Lincoln & Herndon file a bill to foreclose on the mortgage of defendants James A. Barret and his wife, Eliza B. Barret. Ambos claims that he received four promissory, totaling $8,700, from the Barrets. The defendants secured the notes with a mortgage on some land located in Sangamon County (Illinois). Ambos alleges that the Barrets failed to repay the notes and he further alleges that the defendants used sections of the same land to secure a promissory note that the couple gave to another lender, Henry VonPhul. Promissory Notes, filed 9 December 1858, Ambos v. James A. Barret & Co., Record Group 21, case file 518; Declaration, Praecipe, filed 9 December 1858, Ambos v. James A. Barret & Co., Record Group 21, case file 518; Clerk's Docket, 9 December 1858, Ambos v. James A. Barret & Co., Record Group 21, [Clerk's] General Docket, Vol. 1, fol. 104; Clerk's Docket, 9 December 1858, Ambos v. Barret et ux., Record Group 21, [Clerk's] General Docket, Vol., fol. 104; Bill to Foreclose Mortgage, filed 9 December 1858, Ambos v. Barret et ux., Record Group 21, case file 516; Mortgage Deed, filed 9 March 1858, Ambos v. Barret et ux., Record Group 21, case file 516, all in U.S. Circuit Court, Southern District of Illinois, National Archives and Records Administration, Great Lakes Region, Chicago, IL; Mortgage Certificate (copy), filed 12 March 1858, Ambos v. Barret et ux., microfilm, IHi, Springfield, IL.

In another case in U.S. Circuit Court, Stoddard v. Ball, Lincoln files bond for costs, praecipe, and declaration. Case concerns distribution of proceeds of sale of Stoddard's Addition to St. Louis. Files.

Mrs. Lincoln buys and charges ribbon. Pratt, Personal Finances, 149.

To Lyman Trumbull Lincoln writes his estimate of political situation. Douglas is still uppermost in his thoughts. He believes majority of Democratic politicians will try to kill him politically, but he is afraid they will not try the most effective way, which would be to outvote him in national convention. If they try to push slave code on him, he will appeal for Republican support, and must not receive it. Abraham Lincoln to Lyman Trumbull, 11 December 1858, CW, 3:344-45.

Lincoln writes to Alexander Sympson, of Carthage, Illinois, about the recent U.S. Senate election that Lincoln lost to incumbent Stephen Douglas. Lincoln writes, "I expect the result of the election went hard with you. So it did with me...perhaps not quite so hard as you may have supposed. I have an abiding faith that we shall beat them in the long run...the objects of the leaders will become too plain for the people to stand them. I write merely to let you know that I am neither dead nor dying." Abraham Lincoln to Alexander Sympson, 12 December 1858, CW, 3:346.

Lincoln & Herndon file a declaration and a praecipe for plaintiff Mark Hamilton in the case of Hamilton v. Moloney, a suit scheduled to begin in January in the U.S. Circuit Court. Hamilton, a resident of Missouri, is suing Thomas Moloney, of Bloomington, Illinois. Moloney gave Hamilton a bill of exchange in the amount of $447, redeemable at the McLean County Bank, at Bloomington. Hamilton presented the bill for payment, but the bank refused to pay. Declaration, Praecipe, filed 14 December 1858, Hamilton v. Moloney, Record Group 21, case file 525, U.S. Circuit Court, Southern District of Illinois, National Archives and Records Administration, Great Lakes Region, Chicago, IL.

Lincoln urges William Fishback, young lawyer who handled foreclosure proceedings in S. C. Davis & Co. cases for Lincoln & Herndon, to return from Arkansas to Illinois. "Unless your prospects are flattering where you are," he says, "or your health will not permit, I wish you would return and take charge of this business." Abraham Lincoln to William M. Fishback, 19 December 1858, CW, 3:346.

At Bloomington, where McLean Circuit Court is in session, Lincoln writes in autograph book of George Perrin Davis, son of Judge David Davis: "My young friend, George Perrin Davis, has allowed me the honor of being the first to write his name in this book." Inscription in Autograph Album of George P. Davis, 21 December 1858, CW, 3:347.

In the McLean County Circuit Court, Lincoln represents plaintiff Matthew T. Scott, Jr. in the case of Scott v. St. Louis, Alton, & Chicago RR. Scott is suing the railroad for damages. John M. Scott and John B. Hanna represent the railroad. The attorneys for both sides present their evidence and arguments to a jury. The jury awards Scott $2,170 in damages, and the defendant attorneys ask the Court "to set aside the verdict of said Jury, and to grant a new trial." Order, 22 December 1858, Scott v. St. Louis, Alton, & Chicago RR, Common Law Record 9, 682; Judgment Docket, 13 January 1866, Scott v. St. Louis, Alton, & Chicago RR, Judgment & Execution Docket 4, fol. 313, both in McLean County Circuit Court, McLean County Courthouse, Bloomington, IL.

Lincoln writes to William H. Carlin of Quincy, Illinois, and informs Carlin that he is collecting copies of speeches from the recent campaign season. Lincoln explains, "I am making up a Scrap-book...and if any of your speeches were printed, I would be glad to have a copy of the one you consider the best." Carlin, a Democratic state senator representing Adams County, ran in November for re-election as a member of the National Democrat party. Carlin had spoken out against Stephen A. Douglas, Lincoln's opponent in the U.S. Senate race, and Lincoln backed Carlin in the three-way race for the Illinois Senate seat. Carlin came in third in the race. Democrat Austin Brooks won the seat, and Republican John Tillson came in second. Abraham Lincoln to William H. Carlin, 24 December 1858, Brown University Library, Providence, RI; Journal of the Senate of the Nineteenth General Assembly of the State of Illinois (Springfield: Lanphier & Walker, 1855), 3-4; Quincy Daily Whig and Republican (IL), 15 October 1858, 2:2; Quincy Daily Whig and Republican (IL), 12 October 1858, 2:3; The Daily Quincy Herald (IL), 19 October 1858, 2:3; The Daily Quincy Herald (IL), 4 November 1858, 3:1.

Lincoln writes to Henry C. Whitney acknowledging receipt of "Tribunes" he asked for November 30, 1858. Abraham Lincoln to Henry C. Whitney, 25 December 1858, CW, 3:347.

Lincoln files a declaration and a praecipe in the case of Harrison v. Greer, a suit schedule to begin in January in the U.S. Circuit Court. Lincoln & Herndon represent plaintiff Asa J. Harrison, who is suing William Greer for $1,000 in damages. Harrison alleges that he had paid Greer $650 for some hogs that Greer failed to deliver. Declaration and Praecipe, filed 27 December 1858, Harrison v. Greer, Record Group 21, case file 578, U.S. Circuit Court, Southern District of Illinois, National Archives and Records Administration, Great Lakes Region, Chicago, IL.

$2,219.43 is deposited to joint account of Lincoln & Herndon at Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Co. Marine Bank Ledger.

Lincoln writes a legal opinion regarding the will of John Franklin, Sr. Lincoln deems the will unbreakable. Opinion (copy), 30 December 1858, copy files, IHi, Springfield, IL; Opinion Concerning the Will of John Franklin, 30 December 1858, CW, 3:347-48.

[Mrs. Lincoln buys, "per Robert," pair of kid gloves at John Williams' store. Pratt, Personal Finances, 149.]