John T. Stuart leaves to take seat in Congress. Lincoln signalizes his partner's departure for Washington by entering in firm's fee book, "Commencement of Lincoln's Administration."Stuart & Lincoln fee book.

He does preliminary paper work in two Sangamon Circuit Court cases, writing and signing "Stuart & Lincoln" to declaration in Calvin Kendall v. Willis G. Moffett, and declaration and praecipe in Henry Kendall v. James F. Hardin & John R. Reagor.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

He writes to William Doughty of Tremont, where he left his coat. He asks Doughty, keeper of Franklin Tavern, to buy length of coarse domestic (for which Lincoln will pay), wrap it around coat, tie in bundle with enclosed addressed card showing, "and hand the bundle to the Stage driver on his trip towards Springfield."Abraham Lincoln to William Doughty, 2 November 1839, CW, 1:154.

Lincoln writes and files bill of complaint of Neff, Wanton & Co., St. Louis merchants, against Josiah Francis, Athens storekeeper. They seek to collect note for $353.61. Photocopy.

He also writes and files in Sangamon Circuit Court declaration in Iles v. White, suit to collect note, declaration in Jacob Carman & Townsend Carman v. Glasscock et al., declaration in Samuel O'Neal v. Josephus Gatten, declaration in Foley Vaughn v. Wharton Ransdell, and another declaration in George Trotter v. Robert C. Arnold & Moses Fairchild.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln records his employment in fee book in Hay v. Lasswell, and Hay v. Lasswell & Mock. Nathaniel Hay seeks damages for nondelivery of cord wood, and to recover stud horse and bridle, for which Lincoln writes and signs four legal instruments: declaration; praecipe; reply to answer; joinder in plea.Stuart & Lincoln fee book; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln notes in firm fee book his employment in four cases, in preparing which he writes and signs six legal papers: three declarations; two praecipes; one bond for costs. [Two cases of Wm. L. May v. Isaac P. Spear are dismissed November 23, 1839 at plaintiff's cost. Glasgow, Shaw & Tatum v. Herndon, in which he represents defendant, is settled out of court. He collects note for $316.67 for Joseph H. Dollis.]Stuart & Lincoln fee book; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[Logan Circuit Court convenes at Postville.]

Lincoln writes article published in "Sangamo Journal" on history of state bank at Springfield. He replies to several critical articles in "Illinois State Register," saying bank is not solely Whig institution, but was advocated by many Democrats, including Gen. Ewing, Senator Will, Judge Theophilus Smith, Col. J. A. McClernand, and Col. J. Fry. He writes notice (published December 5, 1839) for complainant, David Bruner, in case of petition for partition of real estate in Bruner v. Bruner et al., that affidavits of nonresidents in case must be filed before trial at May term of Tazewell Circuit Court.Sangamo Journal, 8 November 1839, 5 December 1839.

Lincoln, representing plaintiffs, moves continuance of Sears et al. v. Siemers et al., petition to make title to tract of land. Case is continued to June term of Menard Circuit Court.Record.

Lincoln writes praecipe in Clark et al. v. Holland, for plaintiffs, Henry Clark, James Baxter, and William Baxter, trespass and damages ($500).Photocopy.

Election is held to fill unexpired term of Charles R. Matheny, county clerk. Lincoln votes for Noah W. Matheny, who is elected over Edmund Taylor, 966 to 653.Journal, 23 November 1839.

Lincoln writes answer of Jesse Ditson filed in State Bank of Illinois v. Quinton et al.Photocopy.

"Register" fires two shots at Lincoln and Whig associates. Commenting on Lincoln's bank article of November 8, 1839, opposition paper says: "The longest of the long-nine" says state bank is "our dog and we may whip it." Also complained of is "dictation" of "Springfield Junto" in selecting candidate for special election to fill House vacancy. "Would Mr. Lincoln be likely to urge a candidate upon the people, unless he were well assured that he would, if elected, go the whole hog with the Springfield Junto members?"Register, 16 November 1839.

[Sangamon Circuit Court opens three-week session. Judge Treat presides.]

Lincoln gets judgment for $440.14 in John & Augustus Kerr & Co. v. Constant & Francis. Court awards him $7 for survey and report in Butler v. Tilford et al. [T. M. Neale made survey.]Record; Deed Book F, 80; Photocopy.

Carman & Carman v. Glasscock et al., trespass case involving loss of boatload of corn on fish-trap dam on Sangamon River, is continued on Lincoln's motion. He argues assumpsit suit of Hay v. Lasswell before jury. Lasswell has failed to deliver 100 cords of wood to Hay's brickyard. Unable to agree, jury is discharged. He writes all papers of these two cases—affidavit, declaration, memorandum, and, for good measure, writes administrator's report in Patterson et al. v. Casey et al.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln gets judgment in two cases, Kendall v. Moffett for $157.90, and Atwood & Jones v. Douglas & Wright for $568.22. Stockton v. Tolly, suit for damages to cook stove, is dismissed at plaintiff's cost. Lincoln appears for defendant. He files answer as guardian in Levica Davenport, adm. of Marshall Davenport v. William Davenport et al.Record.

In Rhoda Hart v. John Sackett et al., he writes answer of Antrim Campbell, guardian, and decree of court approving sale of land.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Article in Sangamo Journal on Douglas' pretensions to Stuart's seat in Congress is probably from Lincoln's pen. He files report for complainant, John W. Patterson, in Patterson et al. v. Casey et al., and case is continued, along with Trotter v. Arnold & Fairchild.Record.

Lincoln writes answer of J. A. Brown filed in State Bank of Illinois v. Quinton et al.Photocopy.

Chicago American of November 29, 1839 notices Lincoln's labors on stump.

Lincoln has two cases called. He moves to dismiss Lockwood v. Wernwag and agrees to three months stay of execution in Kendall v. Moffett. He writes bill of exceptions for Nathaniel Hay, plaintiff, in Hay v. Lasswell & Mock. He earns $5 for services as commissioner in Huston v. Bogue, on making report. [On March 25, 1840, Lincoln took Kendall v. Moffett execution to Schuyler County, but nothing was realized for want of bidders. Docket D.] Record; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.