On motion of defendant's attorney, verdict in Lincoln's suit against Illinois Central is set aside. Jury is again called, and again finds for plaintiff, this time for $4,800. (Lincoln had forgotten $200 retainer.) Court overrules defendant's motion for new trial. Defendant is allowed appeal to Supreme Court, but this appeal is never taken. Record; Brief of Argument in Abraham Lincoln vs. Illinois Central Railroad, [23 June 1857], CW, 2:397-98.

Issue is joined before jury in Coffin v. Palmer et al. in U.S. Circuit Court, Lincoln and Smith for plaintiff. Court adjourns before arguments are finished. Record.

In the evening, Lincoln is in Springfield, where he delivers a speech "in reply to the speech recently made by Judge [Stephen] Douglas." Lincoln takes issue with Douglas's support of the U.S. Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision. Lincoln asserts, "That decision declares two propositions—first, that a negro cannot sue in the U.S. Courts; and secondly, that Congress cannot prohibit slavery in the Territories. . . . [W]e think the . . . decision is erroneous. We know the court that made it, has often over-ruled its own decisions, and we shall do what we can to have it to over-rule this." Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield), 29 June 1857, 2:1; Speech at Springfield, Illinois, 26 June 1857, CW, 2:398-410.

Lincoln loses Coffin v. Palmer et al. when jury decides that defendants are not holding land belonging to plaintiff. Record.

To Orville H. Browning, Lincoln writes: "When I went to Bloomington . . . I saw Mr. Price and learned from him that this note was a sort of 'insolvent fix-up' with his creditors—a fact in his history I have not before learned of." Abraham Lincoln to Orville H. Browning, 29 June 1857, CW, 2:410.