Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

James M. McLean to Abraham Lincoln, 11 June 18491
Lawrenceville 11 June 1849Frend Lincoln
When I recv^d[received] yours yesterday2 I wrote you which you have recv^d in a moment3 after receiving it in a hurry to get it into the mail which was just leaving, on reflection I thought perhaps I ought to have adressed my letter to the president and have written the enclosed4
yours trulyJ. M. M^cLeanHon A Lincoln

1James M. McLean wrote and signed this letter.

2Abraham Lincoln sent McLean a letter June 3, 1849, requesting a letter of support for his candidacy for commissioner of the U.S. General Land Office. Originally, Justin H. Butterfield, James L. D. Morrison, and Cyrus Edwards were vying to replace Richard M. Young as commissioner of the U.S. General Land Office. Lincoln entered the competition after learning that Butterfield was favored over Morrison and Edwards. See the General Land Office Affair.

3No other letter on this topic from McLean to Lincoln has been located.

4The enclosed correspondence that McLean references was not found with this letter and has not been located. Ultimately, neither Morrison, Edwards, nor Lincoln received the position. President Zachary Taylor appointed Butterfield instead. See the General Land Office Affair.