Amendment proposed by Woodson of Greene to dismiss Board of Public Works and turn its affairs over to Fund Commissioners is referred to Internal Improvements Committee by vote of 46-40, Lincoln voting with majority. House Journal.

Lincoln offers resolution: "That the committee on education . . . inquire into the expediency of providing by law for examination as to qualifications of persons, offering themselves as school-teachers, that no teacher shall receive any part of the public school fund who shall not have successfully passed an examination." This resolution is embodied in sec. 81 of common school code adopted at this session.House Journal.

In Circuit Court, Harrison v. Hart et al. is submitted to Judge William Thomas of First Judicial District, by agreement. Logan and Baker represent complainant, Lincoln and Campbell defendants. In Spear et al. v. Newton & Newton, court orders auditor to pay complainant, Lincoln's client, $820.39 and defendant $350.Record.

No roll calls are taken, so it is not known if Lincoln attends legislature, where he is appointed to special committee with Gillespie and Bissell to negotiate loan from state bank to pay interest due January 1, 1841.Quincy Whig, 19 December 1840.

Norman H. Purple of Peoria petitions House, claiming seat of William J. Phelps. Lincoln moves that House take up petition at once, arguing that party feeling would be augmented by delay. He proposes that governor be authorized to issue "interest bonds" to defray interest on state debt. House Journal; Remarks in Illinois Legislature Concerning Petition of Norman H. Purple, 4 December 1840, CW, 1:214-15; Remarks in Illinois Legislature Amending a Bill Providing Interest on State Debt, 4 December 1840, CW, 1:215-17.

Stuart & Lincoln buy $30.50 worth of merchandise from a Springfield merchant.Account (copy), 4 December 1840, Irwin & Corneau Account Book, 185, microfilm, IHi, Springfield, IL.

Whigs, eager for party reasons to prevent sine die adjournment of House, absent themselves so there will be no quorum. Lincoln, Gillespie, and Gridley are present as observers. Over-confident, they vote on roll call. When quorum is announced they are taken by surprise, lose their heads in excitement and jump out window—all to no avail.House Journal; Sparta Democrat, 18 December 1840, 25 December 1840; Register, 11 December 1840.

House assembles in new state house to begin regular session of Twelfth General Assembly. Lincoln opposes placing unfinished business of last session in same order in present session. He introduces bill to provide for payment of interest on state debt, and on his motion, bill of Peck of Cook for that purpose is read second time by title.House Journal.

On Lincoln's motion, rules are suspended and his bill to provide payment of interest on public debt is taken up. Motion to refer bill to Committee on Banks fails. He and Trumbull then add amendments designed to give fund commissioner power to hypothecate state bonds to pay interest due and cost of suits brought by state.House Journal.

Act to vacate plat of town of Livingston is on Lincoln's motion referred to select committee composed of Lincoln, Gridley of McLean, and Menard of Tazewell. House Journal.

Lincoln's and Trumbull's amendments to bill providing for payment of interest on public debt, introduced Tuesday, are taken up and passed. Hicks of Jefferson brings in bill for similar act, which, on Lincoln's motion, is referred to committee on Finance.House Journal.

[Fashionable ball is held at American House.]

Internal improvement interest bill is taken up. Amendment by Kitchell of Montgomery provides that no interest be paid on bonds sold in violation of law is voted on and passed 41-40. Lincoln votes nay.House Journal.

Amendment of Cavarly of Greene to bill giving fund commissioner power to hypothecate bonds to pay interest due on internal improvement debt is lost 41-47, Lincoln voting yea. He reports from committee "act to vacate the town plat of the town of Livingston."House Journal.

Bill authorizing circuit judges to appoint and remove clerks is refused second reading, Lincoln voting nay. He votes against engrossing for third reading bill of Hicks of Jefferson to provide for payment of internal improvement debt interest.House Journal.

Stuart & Lincoln buy $32.06 worth of merchandise from a Springfield merchant.Account (copy), 14 December 1840, Irwin & Corneau Account Book, 185, microfilm, IHi, Springfield, IL.

Lincoln votes against resolution authorizing governor to appoint three suitable persons to investigate canal commissioners. Senate bill authorizing $300,000 in bonds to be hypothecated to pay interest on internal improvement debt passes House. Lincoln votes for it. House Journal.

Stuart & Lincoln receive $50 from Jacob Forsythe & Co. and they deposit the money into their account with a Springfield merchant. Account (copy), 15 December 1840, Irwin & Corneau Account Book, 185, microfilm, IHi, Springfield, IL.

Resolution of Hardin of Morgan County to have citizens vote for or against constitutional convention at next General Assembly election is tabled. Lincoln votes with majority. Samuel McRoberts, Democrat, is elected to U.S. Senate over Cyrus Edwards, Whig, 77 to 50. Lincoln votes for Edwards.House Journal.

Lincoln attends legislature. He writes to Stuart about yesterday's senatorial election, and about applicants for offices at Stuart's disposal. "This affair of appointment to office is very annoying—more so to you than to me, doubtless. I am, as you know, opposed to removals to make places for our friends."House Journal; Abraham Lincoln to John T. Stuart, 17 December 1840, CW, 1:221.

Senate and House meet to elect attorney general. Josiah Lamborn, Democrat, is elected, 75 to 45, over David M. Woodson, Whig. Lincoln votes for Woodson.House Journal.

Lincoln is appointed chairman of select committee to consider his resolution to inquire into expenditure for public printing. He votes for amendment requiring school commissioners to keep offices at county seats. His motion to table amendment of Murphy of Cook for state-wide prohibition is adopted 75 to 8.House Journal.

Motion of Hardin of Morgan to seat William J. Phelps as representative from Peoria is adopted, 48-33, Lincoln voting aye. He opposes bill for relief of William Dormandy. He points out that Dormandy has twice brought charred notes to state bank and has been refused payment, and that refusal has been upheld by court decision.House Journal.

Lincoln and Strong, attorneys for appellants, file record and assignment of errors in Supreme Court case Elkin et al. v. People for use of Fleming, McIntire & Co., suit on sheriff's bond from Sangamon County. Logan, for appellee, joins in error.Record.

[House of Representatives meets only in morning and no roll calls are taken so it is not certain that Lincoln attends.House Journal].

[A. Bielaski opens school on third floor of Delany's brick building to give instructions in "Broadsword, Bayonet and Lance. . . . Instructions at all hours of the day." It has been conjectured that Lincoln may have taken broadsword lessons, and therefore chose this weapon in "duel" with Shields in fall of 1842.Springfield Courier, 25 December 1840.

Bielaski was an engineer employed in railroad surveying.]

[House of Representatives meets without quorum and adjourns.]

[No roll call is taken in House of Representatives, so it is not possible to tell whether Lincoln attends.]

Lincoln introduces bills to establish ferry across Illinois River, and for relief of creditors of late William Wernwag, who had contract to build bridge across Sangamon River and was heavily in debt at his death.House Journal.

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.

Combination bill calling for repeal of appropriation for library of legislature and Supreme Court, and repealing premium on wolf scalps, is subjected to legislative maneuvers. Second section is finally stricken out, 53 ayes to 25 nays, Lincoln voting aye. Five thousand dollars is later voted library.House Journal.