Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Duncan, 10 November 18351
New Salem.
Nov. 10th 1835His Excellency Governor DuncanDear SirUnderstanding that Mr Levi Davis of Vandalia, is an applicant for the office of Auditor of Public Accounts, I take
the liberty to say to you, that his appointment to that office would be entirely satisfactory
to me,
and, I doubt not; to most others who are the friends of quailification and merit—2
Your Obt Servt[Obedient Servant]A. Lincoln<Page 2>
FREE
VANDALIA ILLSNOV[November] 1[6?]His ExcellencyGov, DuncanJacksonville Ills
[ docketing
]
Auditor Pub. accts[Public accounts]—
Recom.[Recommending] Levi Davis by Lincoln—
1836—
Recom.[Recommending] Levi Davis by Lincoln—
1836—
1Abraham Lincoln wrote the entirety of the text as well as the address written on the
back side of the paper.
2Lincoln may have become acquainted with Davis while Lincoln was serving as a member
of the Illinois House of Representatives in Vandalia, Illinois, where Davis lived and practiced law. On November 16, 1835, Governor Duncan appointed
Davis to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of the sitting auditor.
John Clayton, comp., The Illinois Fact Book and Historical Almanac, 1673-1968 (Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press), 100.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).