John T. Stuart leaves to take seat in Congress. Lincoln signalizes his partner's departure for Washington by entering in firm's fee book, "Commencement of Lincoln's Administration."Stuart & Lincoln fee book.

He does preliminary paper work in two Sangamon Circuit Court cases, writing and signing "Stuart & Lincoln" to declaration in Calvin Kendall v. Willis G. Moffett, and declaration and praecipe in Henry Kendall v. James F. Hardin & John R. Reagor.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

He writes to William Doughty of Tremont, where he left his coat. He asks Doughty, keeper of Franklin Tavern, to buy length of coarse domestic (for which Lincoln will pay), wrap it around coat, tie in bundle with enclosed addressed card showing, "and hand the bundle to the Stage driver on his trip towards Springfield."Abraham Lincoln to William Doughty, 2 November 1839, CW, 1:154.

Lincoln writes and files bill of complaint of Neff, Wanton & Co., St. Louis merchants, against Josiah Francis, Athens storekeeper. They seek to collect note for $353.61. Photocopy.

He also writes and files in Sangamon Circuit Court declaration in Iles v. White, suit to collect note, declaration in Jacob Carman & Townsend Carman v. Glasscock et al., declaration in Samuel O'Neal v. Josephus Gatten, declaration in Foley Vaughn v. Wharton Ransdell, and another declaration in George Trotter v. Robert C. Arnold & Moses Fairchild.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln records his employment in fee book in Hay v. Lasswell, and Hay v. Lasswell & Mock. Nathaniel Hay seeks damages for nondelivery of cord wood, and to recover stud horse and bridle, for which Lincoln writes and signs four legal instruments: declaration; praecipe; reply to answer; joinder in plea.Stuart & Lincoln fee book; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln notes in firm fee book his employment in four cases, in preparing which he writes and signs six legal papers: three declarations; two praecipes; one bond for costs. [Two cases of Wm. L. May v. Isaac P. Spear are dismissed November 23, 1839 at plaintiff's cost. Glasgow, Shaw & Tatum v. Herndon, in which he represents defendant, is settled out of court. He collects note for $316.67 for Joseph H. Dollis.]Stuart & Lincoln fee book; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[Logan Circuit Court convenes at Postville.]

Lincoln writes article published in "Sangamo Journal" on history of state bank at Springfield. He replies to several critical articles in "Illinois State Register," saying bank is not solely Whig institution, but was advocated by many Democrats, including Gen. Ewing, Senator Will, Judge Theophilus Smith, Col. J. A. McClernand, and Col. J. Fry. He writes notice (published December 5, 1839) for complainant, David Bruner, in case of petition for partition of real estate in Bruner v. Bruner et al., that affidavits of nonresidents in case must be filed before trial at May term of Tazewell Circuit Court.Sangamo Journal, 8 November 1839, 5 December 1839.

Lincoln files declaration in U.S. Circuit Court in Hooper, Martin, & Smith v. Haines & Son, alleging failure of defendant to pay promissory note for $567.28, and debt of $12.63.Record.

Lincoln takes for collection three notes of D. B. Hill to Kerr & Co. totaling $2,045.78.Stuart & Lincoln fee book.

Lincoln, representing plaintiffs, moves continuance of Sears et al. v. Siemers et al., petition to make title to tract of land. Case is continued to June term of Menard Circuit Court.Record.

Lincoln writes praecipe in Clark et al. v. Holland, for plaintiffs, Henry Clark, James Baxter, and William Baxter, trespass and damages ($500).Photocopy.

Lincoln writes Stuart that Douglas has given up contest to get Stuart's seat in Congress. He believes Noah W. Matheny will be elected to succeed C. R. Matheny, his father, as county clerk. Lincoln fears outcome of approaching legislative contest between T. J. Nance (Dem.) and John Bennett (Whig).Abraham Lincoln to John T. Stuart, 14 November 1839, CW, 1:154.

Debate continues with Douglas discussing national bank. Lincoln replies, beginning, says Register (November 23, 1839), with embarrassment and continuing without making the slightest impression. "Mr. L. of Wednesday night was not the L. of Tuesday." Lincoln writes and signs joinder in demurrer in Foley Vaughn v. Wharton Ransdell.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln has 11 cases called, in five of which he gets judgment. He writes and signs, for William D. Herndon, defendant, pleas in Glasgow, Shaw, & Tatum v. Herndon. He writes court order in West v. Stevens & Stevens. John Calhoun for Democrats, and E. D. Baker for Whigs, continue debate. A. P. Field declares he has always opposed internal improvement system. Lincoln's failure to comment on this statement annoys "Register." Record; Photocopy; Register, 30 November 1839.

Nor does Register (November 23, 1839) care for Lincoln's public remarks on its criticism of Junto dictation. "He [Lincoln] asserted that he did not advise etc. the running of John Bennett for the Legislature, but was in favour of Bowling Green; and that the editors of the Register had lied in making such a statement. Mr. Lincoln said further that we hadno authority for making the statement; and that having no authority, even if we had published the truth, we were stillliars. Such was the language of the man selected by the Whig Party to be an elector of the high office of President of the United States."

[Special election to fill vacancy caused by John Calhoun's resignation from legislature is held. Vote is close in district which includes Sangamon, Logan, Menard, and Dane counties. Thomas J. Nance wins by 36 votes.Theodore C. Pease, ed., Illinois Election Returns, 1818-1848, vol. 18 of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library (Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1923), 328; Register, 30 November 1839; Abraham Lincoln to John T. Stuart, 14 November 1839, CW, 1:154.]

Lincoln gets judgment for $440.14 in John & Augustus Kerr & Co. v. Constant & Francis. Court awards him $7 for survey and report in Butler v. Tilford et al. [T. M. Neale made survey.]Record; Deed Book F, 80; Photocopy.

Carman & Carman v. Glasscock et al., trespass case involving loss of boatload of corn on fish-trap dam on Sangamon River, is continued on Lincoln's motion. He argues assumpsit suit of Hay v. Lasswell before jury. Lasswell has failed to deliver 100 cords of wood to Hay's brickyard. Unable to agree, jury is discharged. He writes all papers of these two cases—affidavit, declaration, memorandum, and, for good measure, writes administrator's report in Patterson et al. v. Casey et al.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln has two cases called. He moves to dismiss Lockwood v. Wernwag and agrees to three months stay of execution in Kendall v. Moffett. He writes bill of exceptions for Nathaniel Hay, plaintiff, in Hay v. Lasswell & Mock. He earns $5 for services as commissioner in Huston v. Bogue, on making report. [On March 25, 1840, Lincoln took Kendall v. Moffett execution to Schuyler County, but nothing was realized for want of bidders. Docket D.] Record; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.