"On Sunday evening last," observes Register (June 14, 1849), "Lincoln and Butterfield 'went off handsomely,' the former having a slight advantage in the start, though Lincoln had the 'inside track,' (in the opinion of his friends;) it being a 'steeple chase,' . . . the goal being the federal capital. . . . Bets run high, though the backers of Lincoln give slight odds."