Lincoln votes with majority to change hour of convening House from 10 to 9 A.M. He votes on two minor questions in party fight over duties of public printer.House Journal.

Lincoln votes yea on passage of "act to incorporate the Morgan County Mutual Fire Insurance Co." On his motion title of another insurance bill is changed after passage to: "Act to incorporate the Sangamon Fire Insurance Co." His amendment to supplemental act incorporating subscribers to Bank of Illinois, Shawneetown, is voted down.House Journal.

Day is devoted to Sangamon division bill. Linder's motion to have only people in new county vote brings debate in which Linder, Douglas, Webb, and Lincoln take part. Linder's afternoon motion to eliminate referendum clause brings Lincoln again into debate.House Journal.

Stuart or Lincoln probably are in Thomas Moffett's office during the deposition of John Calhoun in Foster v. Cassidy. The complainant deposed Calhoun and Stuart & Lincoln repesent the defendant.Record.

[No roll calls are taken and Lincoln's name does not appear in proceedings.House Journal.]

Lincoln and Strong, attorneys for appellants, file record and assignment of errors in Supreme Court case Elkin et al. v. People for use of Fleming, McIntire & Co., suit on sheriff's bond from Sangamon County. Logan, for appellee, joins in error.Record.

Lincoln's motion for writ of certiorari is allowed in Averill & Lowell v. Field.Record.

Logan & Lincoln represent petitioners in three bankruptcy cases before the U.S. District Court.Record.

Favor & Palmer v. Marlett (SC), appeal from Kane County, involving competency of witnesses, is continued by consent. Lincoln and Dickey represent plaintiffs and Peters defendant.Record.

Cunningham v. Fithian et al. (SC), appeal from Vermilion, is argued by J. B. Thomas and J. J. Brown for appellant and Lincoln and Logan for appellees.Record.

Magone v. Little et al. (SC), error from Jo Daviess, was submitted early in term by Campbell and Lincoln, for plaintiff in error. Opinion is given by Justice Scates, reversing lower court.Sangamo Journal, 15 January 1846.

Lincoln presents resolutions requesting President to inform House whether "spot" on which American blood was first shed in Mexican War was within territory claimed by Mexico. Resolutions are read and laid on table. Congressional Globe; "Spot" Resolutions in the United States House of Representatives, 22 December 1847, CW, 1:420-22.

He presents memorial of citizens of Illinois in behalf of Great Western Railroad. Journal of the House of Representatives [cited as Journal].

Lincoln receives letter from his father asking for $20 to satisfy judgment.Abraham Lincoln to Thomas Lincoln and John D. Johnston, 24 December 1848, CW, 2:15-17.

Excitement prevails in House in consequence of yesterday's motion regarding slave trade. Southern members plan meeting. [Mrs. Lincoln buys load of firewood, again using William Butler, for $1.75.Irwin Ledger.]

Whig state convention meets. Lincoln is appointed to committee on resolutions and committee of seven to nominate four delegates to Whig national convention and to select Whig central committee. Committee's selections are approved and convention to nominate candidates for state offices is called for July 7, 1851. Illinois Journal, 24 December 1851.

Mrs. Lincoln buys 46¢ piece of silk at John Williams & Co. Pratt, Personal Finances, 145.

Circuit Court adjourns after its longest session. New England Society celebrates 236th anniversary of landing of Pilgrims with supper at Concert Hall. After supper come many toasts, interspersed with music and remarks by J. H. Matheny, William Jayne, Erastus Wright, Lincoln, and others. Illinois State Journal, 24 December 1856.

In the McLean County Circuit Court, Lincoln represents plaintiff Matthew T. Scott, Jr. in the case of Scott v. St. Louis, Alton, & Chicago RR. Scott is suing the railroad for damages. John M. Scott and John B. Hanna represent the railroad. The attorneys for both sides present their evidence and arguments to a jury. The jury awards Scott $2,170 in damages, and the defendant attorneys ask the Court "to set aside the verdict of said Jury, and to grant a new trial." Order, 22 December 1858, Scott v. St. Louis, Alton, & Chicago RR, Common Law Record 9, 682; Judgment Docket, 13 January 1866, Scott v. St. Louis, Alton, & Chicago RR, Judgment & Execution Docket 4, fol. 313, both in McLean County Circuit Court, McLean County Courthouse, Bloomington, IL.

Informed of rumor that Buchanan has instructed Major Anderson to surrender Fort Sumter if attacked, Lincoln exclaims, "If that is true they ought to hang him!" He adds that he has just written to Washburne "to tell General Scott confidentially that I wished him to be prepared, immediately after my inauguration, to make arrangements at once to hold the forts, or, if they had been taken, to take them back again." ISLA—Nicolay Memo., Ms.

Lincoln writes Major David Hunter that he thinks forts must be retaken, if they fall. Lincoln acknowledges letter from Peter H. Silvester of Coxsackie, N.Y., former colleague in Congress, but has time to write no more than that, and: "If Mr. B. surrenders the forts, I think they must be retaken." He replies to letter from Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, another former congressional colleague, assuring him that South will not be harmed by Republican rule. Abraham Lincoln to David Hunter, 22 December 1860, CW, 4:159; Abraham Lincoln to Peter H. Silvester, 22 December 1860, CW, 4:160; Abraham Lincoln to Alexander H. Stephens, 22 December 1860, CW, 4:160-61.

Lincolns attend New York Avenue Presbyterian Church and drive Sen. Browning (Ill.) home. Browning, Diary.

Capt. Dahlgren at White House about 10 A.M. at request of President, to observe testing of new gunpowder. J. W. Forney with Lincoln to confer on cabinet changes. Extracts from Dahlgren Diary, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

President and Gen. Burnside hold military conference with Sec. Stanton at his residence. John M. Forbes, Letters and Recollections of John Murray Forbes, 2 vols. (Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1899), 1:344.

Lincoln congratulates Army of Potomac for courage displayed at Battle of Fredericksburg. Congratulations to the Army of the Potomac, 22 December 1862, CW, 6:13-14.

Acknowledges plan of Gens. Franklin and William F. Smith for Army of Potomac to advance on Richmond by way of James River. Abraham Lincoln to William B. Franklin and William F. Smith, 22 December 1862, CW, 6:15-16.

Sends to Senate report of former Sen. Johnson's (Md.) activities as U.S. commissioner at New Orleans during July 1862. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 22 December 1862, CW, 6:16.

Discusses possible cabinet shake-up with Sen. Browning (Ill.) in evening. Browning, Diary.

Mrs. Lincoln borrows "Scott Poetical Works" from Library of Congress. Borrowers' Ledger 1861-63, 114, Archives of the Library of Congress, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[It is not possible to specify which edition of Sir Walter Scott, Poetical Works was ordered.]

President transmits to Senate two conventions between U.S. and Belgium relating to Scheldt Dues, imposts upon navigation in inland waters. Abraham Lincoln to the Senate, 22 December 1863, CW, 7:87.

Lincoln and Secs. Seward and Welles constitute cabinet meeting. Welles, Diary.

President recognizes Henry Préant as vice consul of Russia at Philadelphia. Washington Chronicle, 24 December 1863.

Interviews former Sen. Francis Gillette (Conn.) on recommendation of Sen. Sumner (Mass.). Sumner to Lincoln, 22 December 1863, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Replies to petition from citizens of St. Louis: "I have never interfered, nor thought of interfering as to who shall or shall not preach in any church. . . . If, after all, what is now sought, is to have me put Dr. M. [McPheeters] back, over the heads of a majority of his own congregation, that too, will be declined." Abraham Lincoln to Oliver D. Filley, 22 December 1863, CW, 7:85-86.

Orders Gen. Gilman Marston, military commander at Point Lookout, Md.: "If you have a prisoner by the name Linder—Daniel Linder, I think, and certainly the son of U[sher] F. Linder, of Illinois, please send him to me by an officer." Abraham Lincoln to Gilman Marston, 22 December 1863, CW, 7:87.

Directs Sec. Welles to "suppress any further publication of any part of" correspondence captured aboard Confederate ship "Ceres." Abraham Lincoln to Gideon Welles, [22 December 1863], CW, 7:87-88.

President interviews John Bliss, 1st Vermont Cavalry, who for fear of being treated as deserter calls on Lincoln and returns to regiment. Order Concerning John Bliss, 22 December 1864, CW, 8:176-77.

Consults with Joseph J. Lewis, commissioner of internal revenue, regarding resolution to correct errors in regulations. Lewis to Lincoln, 22 December 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Receives Sen. Lane (Kans.), who returns to Kansas to run for reelection. Lane to Lincoln, 20 December 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Sec. Seward calls on President with letter from former Sen. King (N.Y.) recommending John Bigelow, author, editor, and U.S. consul general in Paris, to be minister to France. King to Seward, 21 December 1864, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Gen. Sherman sends President following dispatch: "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah with 150 heavy guns & plenty of ammunition & also about 25000 bales of cotton." Abraham Lincoln to William T. Sherman, 26 December 1864, CW, 8:181-82.

President approves amended treasury regulation regarding commercial intercourse. Approval of Treasury Regulation No. 55, 22 December 1864, CW, 8:175-76.