Blatchford, Seward & Griswold to Abraham Lincoln, 9 December 18581
Address Box 217 Post Office.
Blatchford, Seward & Griswold,
No. 29 Nassau Street,
No. 29 Nassau Street,
On 23d April last we sent your note in favor of Miller & Holbrook against T J V Owen & Bro of Springfield for $119.28
On 2d May last you wrote us acknowledging receipt of note & saying it should be attended to– Since then we
have heard nothing from you on the note– Pray what has become of it– See our letter of 23d April & advise us–2
Very trulyBlatchford & Griswold<Page 2>
[Envelope]
NEW-YORK
DEC[DECEMBER] 10 1858Hon A. Lincoln,Springfield,Illinois.
DEC[DECEMBER] 10 1858Hon A. Lincoln,Springfield,Illinois.
1An unknown person wrote this letter on behalf of Blatchford, Seward & Griswold and
signed the firm’s name. The same unknown person also wrote the name and address on
the envelope shown in the second image.
2Abraham Lincoln replied on December 14, 1858, offering to sue T. J. V. Owen and Brother to recover the $119.28
debt owed although advising against it, stating “My impression is that the note will
ultimately be paid, but that it’s payment would not be accelerated by a suit.” It is unclear if a lawsuit ever occurred
or if the debt was ever paid.
Blatchford, Seward, & Griswold asked Lincoln to collect debt, 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), https://lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=141371.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress (Washington, DC).