Abraham Lincoln to William H. Davidson, 4 June 18411
Springfield, June 4th 1841—Dear Col:Yours of the 23rd ult:[ultimo] is duly received and I have most cheerfully complied with the request you make in
relation to Col: Servant— I have written to Mr Tyler saying all for the Col: that I could say for the best man on earth—2 Baker will do the same to-day—
About the matter you and I spoke of ^at^ our last parting, I can say nothing which would be new to you. My feelings, and those
of Baker, on that subject, are precisely the same as when we last saw you; but the
question is how to effect any thing— If you see any way that we can do any thi[ng] you ought to write us; there is no indelicacy in it[.] Baker and I were with Webb at Vermillion,3 an[d] talked the matter over with him; and he will te[ll] you the particulars of what we thought—
With my best respects to Mrs Davidso[n] and Mrs Wilson, I remain
Your friend, as everA. Lincoln<Page 2>
SPRINGFIELD Il.JUN[June] ^[7?]^
18
Col: W. H. DavidsonCarmiIllinois—2Lincoln’s letter to President Tyler has not been located. Tyler appointed Servant
receiver of the U.S. General Land Office in Kaskaskia in March 1843.
Combined History of Randolph, Monroe and Perry Counties, Illinois (Philadelphia: J. L. McDonough, 1883), 309; Niles' National Register (Philadelphia, PA), 25 March 1843, 51:2.
3This is likely a reference to the most recent sitting of the Vermilion County Circuit Court, where Lincoln had been arguing cases from May 17-20, 1841.
Fithian v. Cunningham, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d edition (Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009), http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).