Lincoln writes to Eliza Browning, who is the wife of State Senator Orville H. Browning, of Quincy, Illinois. Lincoln reveals mixed emotions about a failed courtship. A female friend proposed a match between Lincoln and her sister Mary S. Owens, of Kentucky. Owens, Lincoln writes, "did not look as my immagination had pictured her." Out of a sense of "honor," he resigned himself to the arrangement. Lincoln was "verry unexpectedly . . . mortified" when Owens refused his "proposal." He resolves to remain single because "I can never be satisfied with any one who would be block-head enough to have me."Abraham Lincoln to Mrs. Orville H. Browning, 1 April 1838, CW, 1:117-19.

Lincoln files a bond for costs signed by Joseph Smith and J. P. Anderson in Cannon v. Kenney in the Sangamon County Circuit Court. Stuart & Lincoln represent the plaintif in the case which involves the possession of a sorrel horse worth $65.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln writes and evidently mails to Tremont James Bell's bond for costs in Kennedy & Julian v. Hawley, a case in the Tazewell County Circuit Court. Photocopy.

[The Tazewell County Circuit Court Clerk files the bond in Lincoln's hand, in Kennedy & Julian v. Hawley.Photocopy.

Stuart and Douglas attend the spring court sessions of the first judicial circuit. They debate this week during meeting of the Greene County Circuit Court at Carrollton. R. W. English, Usher F. Linder, Edward D. Baker, and Stephen T. Logan are among the other attorneys attending court.Sangamo Journal, 21 April 1838.]

[Calhoun Circuit Court convenes at Gilead.]

[The Macoupin County Circuit Court begins a five-day term at Carlinville. In the absence of the prosecuting attorney, Judge Jesse B. Thomas, Jr. appoints Usher F. Linder prosecuting attorney pro tem.Record.]

Lincoln writes and signs a notice to take depositions for McNair v. Adams, a case before the Sangamon County Circuit Court. The notice includes questions to be put to witnesses in the state of New York.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

The Tazewell County Circuit Court convenes at Tremont. The Sangamo Journal of April 28, 1838, comments: "Our business last week called us to Tremont during the sitting of the circuit court, Judge Thomas presiding. There were about 220 cases on the docket—all of which were disposed of in 4½ days."Sangamo Journal, 28 April 1838.

Lincoln, the plaintiff's attorney in Kellogg v. Crain, requests a change of venue to the Peoria County Circuit Court because the judge has participated as an attorney in the case.Record.

The court grants Lincoln's change of venue request in Kellogg v. Crain.Record.

Lincoln writes a contingent fee agreement and promissory note for their client James M. Crain in Crain v. Crain et al., a conveyance case before the Tazewell County Circuit Court. Crain signs both the agreement and the note. The fee agreement pays Stuart & Lincoln a $500 fee, if they obtain Crain's full claim in the case, or $300 if they obtain a partial claim. The promissory note was for $25, payable by Crain to Stuart & Lincoln in six months.Privately owned.

Lincoln also writes and files with the court Crain's replication in the case.Photocopy.

Lincoln writes and files the administrator's report for Benjamin Kellogg Jr., the administrator of Lewis F. Crain, deceased, in Ex parte Kellogg, a case to sell real estate. The judge issued a final decree during the fall 1837 term of the Tazewell County Circuit Court.Record; Photocopy.