Lincoln writes to fellow attorney Richard S. Thomas, of Virginia, Illinois, and advises him on ways "to bring . . . a suit on the bond," particularly as it pertains to "grocery keepers." Lincoln reveals details about his correspondence-filing system as he confesses, "I am ashamed of not sooner answering your letter, herewith returned; and, my only appologies are, first, that I have been very busy in the U.S. court; and second, that when I received the letter I put it in my old hat, and buying a new one the next day, the old one was set aside, and so, the letter lost sight of for a time." Abraham Lincoln to Richard S. Thomas, 27 June 1850, CW, 2:80-81.