House devotes afternoon to discussion of circuit court bill. Lincoln votes with majority to pass bill, which is approved 31 to 23.House Journal.

[Lincoln's name does not appear on two roll calls.]

Lincoln votes with majority to table resolution instructing Election Committee to inquire into expediency of voting by ballot. He votes to table resolution asking Congress for alternate sections of land along creeks and rivers for purpose of improving them. House Journal.

Lincoln signs bond of Charles Gregory as treasurer.Bond of Charles Gregory as Treasurer of Illinois, 30 December 1836, CW, 1:60-61.

Lincoln votes nay on consideration of bill to distribute school fund to counties. State bank investigation committee meets in evening, and on Lincoln's motion, elects chairman and clerk. Woodworth of Cook is named chairman and L. T. Jamison clerk.House Journal; House Report, 340-41.

Lincoln votes aye on resolution instructing Committee on Education to report bill distributing state school fund among counties in proportion to white inhabitants under 20 years of age. He votes nay on resolutions instructing Illinois delegation to prevent repeal of Independent Treasury law and reestablishment of national bank.House Journal.

Lincoln writes abstract and fills out certiorari form commanding transcript in Averill & Lowell v. Field. Paper work boredom is relieved when Catherine Bobbit of Christian County repairs to his office. Mrs. Bobbit is under judgment for $100 and costs for assault on Elizabeth Berry, levied by justice court of Aquilla Council. Lincoln's client claims she was defending her daughter from attack. She has Lincoln write writ of certiorari appealing unjust judgment, and signs "Catherine Bobbit (her mark)." Lincoln has client certify before Mayor W. L. May. Judge Treat grants appeal.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Photocopy.

Lincoln writes order of court and order for execution of lien in Dresser v. Miles, Menard County case won November 15, 1842.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Logan & Lincoln join in error for defendant in Lockridge v. Foster et al.Record.

Lincoln's banker-merchant, Robert Irwin, credits him with $15 paid in by "Watts," and $10.50 for six months' interest on $175. Irwin charges his account $9.50 to pay for purchases of Biddle, tailor, in Lincoln's behalf.Irwin Ledger.

Lincoln writes to Samuel D. Marshall about Dorman et ux. v. Lane which he handled in Supreme Court for Marshall. He outlines his next procedure and concludes, "Dont speak of this, lest they hear it, and take the alarm."Abraham Lincoln to Samuel D. Marshall, 30 December 1845, CW, 1:352.

Whig members of legislature meet in "Sangamo Journal" office to select candidate to fill congressional seat left vacant by resignation of E. D. Baker. Lincoln declines, and Judge William Brown is chosen. Chauncey v. Jackson is argued before Supreme Court by O. C. Skinner for plaintiff and Lincoln for defendant.Sangamo Journal, 14 January 1847; Record.

Amos Tuck of New Hampshire presents petition of citizens of Philadelphia praying for passage of law to appropriate proceeds of public land sales for extinction of slavery in U.S. and moves its reference to Committee on Territories. It is tabled, 86-70, Lincoln voting nay. House adjourns until January 3, 1847. Congressional Globe.

[Mrs. Lincoln draws $30 from Lincoln's account. Robert Irwin credits account with $4.22, balance he owes Lincoln for legal services.Irwin Ledger.]

Lincoln writes assignment of errors in Webster & Huntington v. French et al. (Supreme Court). In Sangamon Circuit Court case of Alton & Sangamon RR v. Burkhardt, he writes and files, for plaintiff, praecipe and bond. Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

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.

Simon Cameron, cabinet candidate from Pennsylvania, arrives in Springfield. He proceeds to Lincoln's residence, where he is received with Lincoln's "customary artless Western heartiness." N.Y. Herald, 7 January 1860.

Later they talk at Cameron's hotel, and are accidentally joined by Edward Bates. Bates, Diary.

President names New York commission to assist volunteers in sending home their pay. N.Y. Tribune, 30 December 1861.

Disregards Presidential etiquette and joins party in progress when he makes call on Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase. Pierce, Sumner Memoir and Letters, 4:60.

In evening attends dinner in honor of Governor Andrew Curtin (Pa.) at home of Secretary of War Simon Cameron. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 31 December 1861, 2d ed., 2:1.

Borrows from Library of Congress "U.S. Constitution 1783" and "U.S. Constitution 1856." Borrowers' Ledger 1861-63, 114, Archives of the Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[Irwin withdraws $9 from Springfield Marine Bank for payment of interest on scholarship, Illinois State University. Pratt, Personal Finances, 177.]

President transmits to Congress correspondence between secretary of state and authorities of Great Britain and France regarding Trent affair. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate and House of Representatives, 30 December 1861, CW, 5:82-83.

At cabinet meeting President provides members with copy of Emancipation Proclamation and requests them to offer suggestions. Preliminary Draft of Final Emancipation Proclamation, [30 December 1862], CW, 6:23-26.

President informs Gen. Burnside: "You must not make a general movement of the army without letting me know." Abraham Lincoln to Ambrose E. Burnside, 30 December 1862, CW, 6:22-23.

President recognizes José Carlos Tracy as consul of Peru at New York. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 2 January 1863, 2d ed., 2:3.

Cabinet meets. Speculations arise regarding trouble between Gen. Butler and Rear Adm. Porter. Welles, Diary.

President decides to remove Butler from command. West, Welles, 303-5.

Lincoln writes to Cincinnati, Ohio, lithographer Elijah C. Middleton, who recently produced the president's image. Lincoln offers, "Your picture . . . is, in the main, very good. From a line across immediately above the eye-brows, downward it appears to me perfect. Above such line I think it is not so good,—that is, while it gives perhaps a better fore-head, it is not quite true to the original. If you were present I could tell you wherein, but I can not well do so on paper. The next best thing . . . would be to carefully study a photograph." Abraham Lincoln to Elijah C. Midddleton, 30 December 1864, CW, 8:191-92; Harold Holzer, "Lincoln and the Ohio Printmakers," Ohio History 89, no. 4 (1980): 418.