Benjamin F. Ayer to Abraham Lincoln, 17 December 18581
Chicago Dec. 17. 1858Dear Sir,On the 23d of Sept.[September] last I addressed you a letter of inquiry as to whether the judgment rendered in the
U.S. Cir. Court on the 6th of July last, for $1311.43, in favor of Keith & Thornton vs. R. W. Burt of Atlanta had been paid.2 The claim was sent to me by Messrs.[Messieurs] Smith & Rollins, Attys &c.[Attorneys etc.] in Boston, for collection, and I am constantly receiving inquiries from them as to the present
situation of the affair–
I have not received any reply to my note of Sept. 23d, above referred to, and would be greatly obliged if you would now give me the information
desired.3
Very Truly YoursB. F. AyerHon. A LincolnSpringfieldIlls.<Page 2>
[Envelope]
CHICAGO Ill.[Illinois]
DEC[DECEMBER] 17 1858Hon. A. LincolnSpringfieldIllinois
DEC[DECEMBER] 17 1858Hon. A. LincolnSpringfieldIllinois
1Benjamin F. Ayer wrote and signed this letter. He also wrote Abraham Lincoln’s name
and address on the envelope.
2Ayer’s letter of September 23, 1858 has not been located.
Reuben W. Burt owed Nathaniel Keith and Solon Thornton, partners in the firm of Keith
& Thornton, $1,239.95 on an account. After Burt failed to pay, Keith & Thornton
retained Lincoln & Herndon and sued in an action of assumpsit in the U.S. Circuit Court, Southern District of
Illinois, requesting $2,000 in damages. Ayer served as Burt’s attorney. Burt pleaded
not guilty because the goods he received from Keith & Thornton were defective. Burt
withdrew his plea and defaulted. The court issued a writ of inquiry and called a
jury to assess damages. In July 1858, the jury awarded Keith & Thornton $1,311.43
in damages.
Account, Document ID: 64218; Judgment Docket: 64228, Keith & Thornton v. Burt, 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=137561.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress (Washington, DC).