Lincoln and Lamon represent plaintiff in trover case, Shumate v. Payton. After jury is sworn, plaintiff submits to nonsuit, and defendant is given execution for costs. Lincoln and Lamon also win Wyatt v. Leonard, assumpsit, when defendant defaults and is assessed $146.92 and costs. Record.

Johnson et al. v. Snow et al., chancery case in which Lincoln and Lamon represent complainants, is continued with leave to complainants to amend their bill. Record.

Lincoln reaches Urbana to watch interests of Illinois Central, writing judgment in Brock, Hays & Co. v. Illinois Central RR. Photocopy.

Lincoln writes, and David Davis signs, bill of exceptions in McDonald et al. v. Great Western RR, appeal from assessment for right of way. Photocopy.

[Lincoln's petition for pardon of John Gibbs, endorsed by Judge Davis, is delivered to Gov. Bissell. Petition to William H. Bissell, [8 May 1857], CW, 2:394; Endorsement: David Davis to William H. Bissell, [8 May 1857], CW, 2:394-95.]

On returning to Springfield, Lincoln's first duty is to visit land office in connection with two pre-emption claims sent him by Joseph Brackett. He declines invitation to speak in Minnesota during coming campaign, and files declaration in Wainwright, Huntington, & Floyd v. Curtis et al., alleging nonpayment of promissory note for $1,322.83, in U.S. Circuit Court. Abraham Lincoln to Joseph W. Brackett, 18 May 1857, CW, 2:395-96; Abraham Lincoln to Charles D. Gilfillan, 9 May 1857, CW, 2:395; Record.

Lincoln files praecipe, declaration, and bond for costs in Eshrick, Black & Co. v. Tobias, Hittle & Co. with clerk of U.S. Circuit Court. Suit is brought to enforce payment of note for $831.78, executed by defendants. Record.

He also deposits $200 to his account at the Springfield Marine and Fire Insurance Co., and collects $225 from Joshua F. Amos, administrator of Nathaniel Hay. Marine Bank Ledger; Receipt to Joshua F. Amos, 16 May 1857, CW, 2:395.

To Joseph W. Brackett of Rock Island Lincoln writes account of his visit to land office May 9, 1857. There was no record in office to show quantity of land preempted and he failed to get business concluded. Register was perplexed "because of the peculiarity of the case and consequently he put me off from time to time till now." He encloses certificates. Abraham Lincoln to Joseph W. Brackett, 18 May 1857, CW, 2:395-96.

Mrs. Lincoln buys 36 yards of "Buff Linen" and "1¾ yds. Bobbinet," charging $9.44 to Lincoln's account at John Williams & Co. Pratt, Personal Finances, 148.

Mrs. Lincoln returns buff linen and buys 36 yards of "Cotton Damask," and another yard of bobbinet. Pratt, Personal Finances, 148.

Lincoln, described by Chicago Journal as "the successor of Stephen A. Douglas in the U.S. Senate," is in Chicago. Chicago Journal, 22 May 1857.

Lincoln writes to St. Louis attorneys Newton Deming Strong and George P. Strong regarding the status of the appeal case of Eads & Nelson v. Ohio & Mississippi RR. Lincoln and the Strongs represent the railroad which lost an earlier suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Missouri. That court ruled in favor of Eads & Nelson, a company that did salvage work for the railroad after sixty of the railroad's cars sank in the Ohio River during transport between Louisville, Kentucky, and St. Louis, Missouri. The railroad and the salvage company differ on the amount of compensation that Eads & Nelson should receive for salvaging fifty-two of the sixty cars. Although they won the case in Missouri, Eads & Nelson are compelled to take the railroad to court in Illinois, the state in which the railroad had placed the cars. Eads & Nelson also win the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. Lincoln writes, "The admiralty case now stands on appeal to the circuit court and consequently, can only be tried by Judge [John] McLean; and I understand he will remain here only one week, commencing that first Monday of June." Lincoln advises the Strongs to meet with the plaintiffs' St. Louis attorney "and make an arrangement with him as to a day of taking up the case." Before the defendants appealed the case, Lincoln had argued that the federal court in Illinois did not have jurisdiction because the federal court in Missouri had already tried the case and ruled for Eads & Nelson. Lincoln refers to the federal courts and jurisdiction, and takes the opportunity to mock the U.S. Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision: "There is no longer any difficult question of jurisdiction in the Federal courts; they have jurisdiction in all possible cases except such as might redound to the benefit of a 'nigger' in some way. Seriously, I wish you to prepare, on the question jurisdiction as well as you can; for I fear the later decisions are against us." Abraham Lincoln to Newton Deming Strong and George P. Strong, 25 May 1857, IHi, Springfield, IL; U.S. District Court transcript, 13 September 1855, Eads & Nelson v. Ohio & Mississippi RR, Record Group 21, case file 1; Judgment, 1 July 1856, Eads & Nelson v. Ohio & Mississippi RR, General Record, Vol. 1, 50, U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois; Answer, 15 March 1856, Eads & Nelson v. Ohio & Mississippi RR, Record Group 21, case file 1, all in National Archives and Records Administration, Great Lakes Region, Chicago, IL.

Lincoln appears for defendant in Leverick v. Leverick, case in Vermilion Circuit Court in which appointment of conservator is sought. Jury finds defendant insane, and Richard Leverick is appointed conservator. Record.

Lincoln writes to Jonathan Cooper and Hugh Reynolds, Peoria lawyers, about law case on which he expects court action soon, Eshrick, Black & Co. v. Tobias, Hittle & Co.Abraham Lincoln to Jonathan K. Cooper and Hugh W. Reynolds, 28 May 1857, CW, 2:396.