Lincoln leaves Springfield to attend court in Tazewell County, partly with intention of avoiding entanglement with radicals. First Debate with Stephen A. Douglas at Ottawa, Illinois, 21 August 1858, CW, 3:1-37.

State's attorney dismisses forgery case against Benjamin Kellogg, Jr. Record.

Eight of Lincoln's cases are called. Only one is concluded, Hamilton v. Haines et al., before court May 10, 1854. Defendants default, and court decrees that they pay to Lincoln's client amount of their mortgage debt and interest, $2,412.33. After motions are made in several of other cases, all are continued, and court adjourns. Record.

Lincoln and Douglas meet again. Douglas commences to speak at two o'clock and does not finish until after five. Lincoln takes stand and proposes that meeting adjourn until seven, since his will be extended address. At seven people reassemble, and for three hours Lincoln speaks, substantially as he had at Springfield. Illinois Journal, 21 October 1854; Peoria Press, 18 October 1854; Speech at Peoria, Illinois, 16 October 1854, CW, 2:247-83.

Lincoln and Douglas, announced to speak here, arrive in town but neither makes address. Lacon Journal, 11 October 1854; Herndon & Weik, 300-01.

Lincoln returns home. David McCulloch, History of Peoria County (Chicago: Munsell, 1902), 150.

Lincoln arrives for fall term of Champaign Circuit Court. Whitney describes him riding into town "behind his own horse, which was an indifferent, raw-boned specimen, in his own blacksmith-made buggy—a most ordinary looking one." Henry C. Whitney, Life on the Circuit with Lincoln (Boston: Estes & Lauriat, 1892), 30.

In evening Lincoln makes anti-Nebraska speech at court house. Henry C. Whitney, Life on the Circuit with Lincoln (Boston: Estes & Lauriat, 1892), 215; Urbana Union, 26 October 1854.

Notations in Lincoln's hand on judge's docket show that he sits as judge in 11 cases this term. Photocopy.

He writes order of court appointing W. D. Somers guardian ad litem in Porter et al. v. Busey et al., petition for partition continued from May term. Record.

Taylor v. Moffett, ejectment, Lincoln for defense, is continued by agreement. Record.

Lincoln speaks on Nebraska Bill before large audience at North Market Hall. Newspaper comments: "The impression created by Mr. Lincoln on all men, of all parties, was first, that he was an honest man, and second, that he was a powerful speaker. Abraham Lincoln never trims a speech to suit a latitude—he is always the same man." Chicago Journal, 30 October 1854; Speech at Chicago, Illinois, 27 October 1854, CW, 2:283-84.

Lincoln returns to Urbana. Chicago Journal, 30 October 1854.

Lincoln must have spent entire day driving to Decatur, eastern terminus of Great Western Railroad, which he had to take to get to Naples next day.

Lincoln, on his way to Quincy to speak on behalf of Williams, anti-Nebraska candidate for Congress, writes Yates that as he stopped in Jacksonville he learned that the English in Morgan County were dissatisfied about Know-Nothingism. To remedy this he suggests that copies of letter he encloses be placed in hands of "safe friend" in every precinct having substantial number of foreign citizens. Abraham Lincoln to Richard Yates, 30 October 1854, CW, 2:284.

Lincoln takes stage from Naples to Quincy. It is dark before he reaches there. He meets Abraham Jonas, English Jew who is one of his most faithful supporters. Abraham Lincoln to Abraham Jonas, 21 July 1860, CW, 4:85-86.

He writes another letter to Yates, brief, on same subject. Abraham Lincoln to Richard Yates, 1 November [31 October] 1854, CW, 2:284-85.