Allen Francis to Abraham Lincoln, 12 June 18491
Springfield, June 12, '49Dear Ab Lincoln–Enclosed please find the application and recommendation about which we had a talk.2 I hope you will personally present my case to Old Zack. I have great faith that if you do that I shall succeed. I rest my hopes in your
hand. Secure it for me and I will be grateful to you forever– and my wife will pray that no cloud may ever darken the sunshine of your prosperity.3
Your friendAllen Francis<Page 2>
Hon. A LincolnWashingtonDC3No letter on this topic from Abraham Lincoln to President Zachary Taylor has been located. However, a letter Lincoln wrote Secretary of State John M. Clayton in August 1849 reveals he discussed the application of Francis for U.S. Consul at
Glasgow, Scotland. Francis’ name does not appear in the official registers of the officers and agents
of the government for 1849, 1851, 1853, 1855, 1857, or 1859, so apparently, he did
not receive an appointment. Once he was president, Lincoln appointed Francis to the
consulate in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of
the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1849 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1849); Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of
the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1851 (Washington, DC: Gideon, 1851); Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1853 (Washington, DC: Robert Armstrong, 1853); Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1855 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1855); Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1857 (Washington, DC: A. O. P. Nicholson, 1857); Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1859
(Washington, DC: William A. Harris, 1859); Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1863 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1864), 3; Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the
United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1865 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1866), 4.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s),
Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress (Washington, DC).