Philadelphia-to-Washington train, with Lincoln, W. H. Lamon, and detective Allan Pinkerton on board, switches to Baltimore & Ohio tracks about 4 A.M. at Baltimore and arrives Washington 6 A.M. Baltimore Sun, 25 February 1861; Ida M. Tarbell, The Life of Abraham Lincoln, Sangamon ed., 4 vols. (New York: Lincoln History Society, 1924), 3:42.

Cong. Washburne (Ill.) surprises Lincoln by meeting train with carriage and driving him to Willard's Hotel, 14th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Francis F. Browne, The Everyday Life of Abraham Lincoln (New York: Thompson, 1886), 391-92.

Lincoln breakfasts with Sen. Seward (N.Y.), after which they call upon President Buchanan at White House and meet members of cabinet. Calls on Gen. Scott, who is not home. Returns to Willard's. National Intelligencer, 25 February 1861; N.Y. World, 27 February 1861.

Telegraphs Mrs. Lincoln in Harrisburg, Pa., of safe arrival Washington 6 A.M. N.Y. World, 25 February 1861.

At 2 P.M. Scott returns Lincoln's call. Illinois State Journal, 27 February 1861.

Visitors include Montgomery Blair [soon to be postmaster general] and father, Francis P. Blair, Sr., Washington newspaperman and political figure. Allen C. Clark, Abraham Lincoln in the National Capital (Washington, DC: W. F. Roberts Co., 1925), 9.

[About this date Lincoln visits Mathew B. Brady, 352 Pennsylvania Ave. and poses for several photographs. Frederick H. Meserve and Carl Sandburg, The Photographs of Abraham Lincoln (New York: Harcourt Brace, 1944), 23 February 1861.]

Receives Illinois delegation headed by Sen. Stephen A. Douglas (Ill.) in late afternoon. Illinois State Journal, 27 February 1861.

Goes by carriage to Seward's residence at 7 P.M. to dine privately. Baltimore Sun, 25 February 1861; Clarence E. Macartney, Lincoln and His Cabinet (New York: Scribner, 1931), 123-24.

On return from dinner finds long hall at Willard's lined with people and is so interested in greeting friends on either hand that he forgets to remove hat. N.Y. World, 25 February 1861.

Delegates to Peace Conference meeting in Washington call upon Lincoln at 9 P.M. Sen.-elect Chase (Ohio) [soon to be secretary of treasury] and Lucius E. Chittenden, delegate from Vermont, introduce them. Illinois State Journal, 27 February 1861; Lucius E. Chittenden, Recollections of President Lincoln and his Administration (New York: Harper, 1891), 68-78.

Lincoln holds impromptu public reception for members of Congress and persons of distinction crowding parlor and anterooms. Baltimore Sun, 25 February 1861.

Buchanan's cabinet calls at 10 P.M. Allen C. Clark, Abraham Lincoln in the National Capital (Washington, DC: W. F. Roberts Co., 1925), 9.

Group of New York businessmen presents compromise scheme to restore Southern commerce. William E. Baringer, A House Dividing: Lincoln as President Elect (Springfield, IL: Abraham Lincoln Association, 1945), 307.

[Irwin withdraws $50 from Springfield Marine Bank. Pratt, Personal Finances, 176.

Mrs. Lincoln leaves Harrisburg at 9 A.M. on Presidential train, dines at home of John S. Gittings, Baltimore financier and director of B. & O., arrives Washington about 4 P.M., and rides to hotel with Seward and Washburne. N.Y. Herald, 23 February 1861; Baltimore Sun, 25 February 1861; National Intelligencer, 26 February 1861.

"Hon. A. Lincoln & Family 5 persons Meals in Room for 6" is assigned at Willard's to "No. 6." Private dinners, entertaining, liquor and cigars for numerous visitors bring bill to total of $773.75. (See April 19, 1861.) DLC—Willard's Register Ms.