Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln to John Marshall, 8 February 18541
Springfield, Feb^y 8. 1854.Hon: John MarshallShawneetown, Ills.My dear Sir:
Your letter of the 1^st Ins^t was received yesterday–2 I went at once to the Express Office, got the books, placed twentythree of them at one Book-Store; ^&^ twenty four at another, for sale, at a commission of ten per cent, and took their receipts–3 Of the other three books, I took one to the Register, one to the Journal, and took one home with me– I found that the editors and booksellers had all previously seen favorable notices of the work; and one of the booksellers had sent an order to Cincinnati for some copies of it– I am not much of a reader of this sort of literature; but my wife got hold of the volume I took home, read it half through last night, and is greatly interested in it– When the papers here shall have noticed it, I will send you copies– The charge at the Express office was only $1–50; I return herewith one dollar, & hold fifty cents subject to your order–

My attention to this matter has been rather a pleasure than a trouble–
Yours truly–A. Lincoln–

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[ docketing ]
A Lincoln
Springfield Ill[Illinois]

[Envelope]
SPRINGFI[ELD Ill.]
FEB [February][9?]
PAID
3
Hon: John MarshallShawneetownIllinois–

1Abraham Lincoln wrote and signed this letter, including the address on the envelope.

2John Marshall’s letter has not been located.

3Marshall’s daughter, Sarah Marshall Hayden, wrote the book Early Engagements: and Florence, (a Sequel.) under the pseudonym Mary Frazaer.
Roy P. Basler, ed., The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), 2:211; Mary Frazaer, Early Engagements: and Florence, (a Sequel.) (Cincinnati: Moore, Anderson, Wilstach & Keys, 1854).