[The Illinois Supreme Court convenes in Springfield. Justice John D. Caton is not present on the first day of court due to weather delays. He arrives two days later. A local newspaper notes, however, that "A full quota of lawyers are already in attendance, from the different parts of the Division." Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 9 January 1856, 3:1; John M. Palmer, ed., The Bench and Bar of Illinois, 2 vols. (Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company, 1899), 1:39-41.]

Lincoln, representing defendants in error, enters motion for rehearing in Edmunds v. Mayers & Mayers in Supreme Court. In this case, heard February 3, 1855, court decided against Lincoln's clients. Involved were patent rights to cradle which, "being wound up, would rock itself until it run down, and to save the continual labor to mothers and nurses, of rocking the cradle." Lincoln's motion is denied. Record; 16 Ill. 207.

James F. Joy, representing Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co., files in Supreme Court application for mandamus commanding Isaac G. Wilson, judge of 13th Circuit, to appoint commissioners to appraise property in Aurora which railroad wants for shops, stations, etc. He urges Lincoln, resisting application, to take up motion as soon as possible. Lincoln is not ready, and gets off until the 14th. Abraham Lincoln to Charles Hoyt, 16 January 1856, CW, 2:328-29.

Lincoln spends day preparing his argument in mandamus case. Abraham Lincoln to Charles Hoyt, 16 January 1856, CW, 2:328-29.

Again Lincoln spends entire day in case of Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy RR v. Wilson. Abraham Lincoln to Charles Hoyt, 16 January 1856, CW, 2:328-29.