[Piatt Circuit Court convenes at Monticello.]

Lincoln writes to John J. Hardin, the Whig Party's nominee for Illinois's 7th Congressional District. Hardin, of Jacksonville, won the nomination over Lincoln's friend Edward D. Baker. Lincoln assures Hardin that Sangamon County's Whigs back Hardin's candidacy. As proof, Lincoln refers to a "proposal" that he submitted to a Springfield newspaper. It reads, "the majority of votes in SANGAMON COUNTY for Hardin shall DOUBLE the number of his majority in MORGAN COUNTY. The losing County shall give a free BARBACUE to the whigs of the other county—the said Barbacue to be provided at some place most convenient for the accomodation of the whigs of the two Counties. Whigs of Morgan, will you go it?"Abraham Lincoln to John J. Hardin, 11 May 1843, CW, 1:322-23; Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 11 May 1843, 2:2, 2:5.

[Moultrie Circuit Court convenes at Sullivan.]

Lincoln writes bill in chancery in Runyon v. Dresser, asking real estate conveyance.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[Coles County Circuit Court convenes, and Shelby Circuit Court opens for four-day term.]

Lincoln pays for suit. Five yards of material cost $32.50; "trimmings" come to $3.87. He pays Benjamin R. Biddle, tailor, $9. Total cost: $45.37. He also buys $48.87 worth of merchandise.Irwin Ledger and Journal.

Lincoln writes to his friend, Joshua F. Speed, of Kentucky, and relates details about domestic matters, including the upcoming birth of Abraham and Mary Lincoln's first child. Lincoln writes, "We are not keeping house; but boarding at the Globe tavern, which is very well kept now by a widow lady of the name of [Sarah] Beck. Our room . . . and boarding only costs four dollars a week. . . . I reckon it will scarcely be in our power to visit Kentucky this year. Besides poverty, and the necessity of attending to business, those 'coming events' I suspect would be some what in the way." Abraham Lincoln to Joshua F. Speed, 18 May 1843, CW, 1:323-25.

Lincoln pays $1.50 for "Leghorn" (straw) hat.Irwin Ledger.

[Col. R. M. Johnson, Vice-President 1837-1841, arrives in Springfield Friday evening. Following parade, reception is held in Representatives Hall. Democratic Association presents hickory cane. On Sunday he attends Methodist church in morning and Baptist church in afternoon.Register, 26 May 1843; IHi—Journal, XIII, 192-209.]

Logan & Lincoln have three cases dismissed and one continued at one-day term of Christian Circuit Court. Rountree and Lincoln have one case continued. In People v. Langley et al., two indictments for riot, state's attorney drops one and gets jury verdict in other. Court fines Langley $20 and each of three other defendants $5. Rountree and Lincoln appear for defendants.Record.

[John H. Murphy, attorney in Strong et al. v. Thomas et al., swears affidavit of nonresidence of Marshall Lander, one of defendants, before T. R. Webber, clerk of Champaign County Circuit Court in Urbana. Lincoln wrote affidavit for Murphy, and evidently mailed it.Photocopy.]

[Logan Circuit Court convenes.]

Lincoln pays $2 for "Sattin Stock" (neckwear).Irwin Ledger and Journal.

Lincoln buys toothbrush (25¢) and third-yard of serge (50¢) for his tailor Biddle, who is evidently making alterations.Irwin Ledger and Journal.