<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-01'>Friday, December 1, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
Lincoln &amp; Herndon file amended petition in <name type='case' key='L03199'>Evans et al. v. Staley et al.</name> in Sangamon Circuit Court.
<bibl default='NO'>Photocopy.</bibl>
         </p>
         <p>
To Joseph Gillespie of Madison County Lincoln writes: "I have really 
got it into my head to try to be United States Senator; and if I 
could have your support my chances would be reasonably good. But I 
know, and acknowledge, that you have as just claims to the place as I 
have; and therefore I do not ask you to yield to me, if you are 
thinking of becoming a candidate yourself."
<bibl default='NO'>
               <xref from='ROOT' url='http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln2;node=lincoln2%3A297' targOrder='U' to='DITTO'>Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Gillespie</xref>, 1 December 1854, <title corresp='books_Basler2'>CW</title>, 2:290.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-02'>Saturday, December 2, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
Lincoln's court work consists of entering motion in one case and 
filing bill of exceptions in another.
<bibl default='NO'>Record.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-04'>Monday, December 4, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
Lincoln has another easy day in court. As complainant's solicitors he 
and Herndon file supplemental bill in one case, while in another they 
enter motion that defendant be ruled to answer by February 1, 1854.
<bibl default='NO'>Record.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-05'>Tuesday, December 5, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
The fall term of Sangamon Circuit Court closes. Three Lincoln &amp; 
Herndon cases are called, but quickly disposed of.
<bibl default='NO'>Record.</bibl>
         </p>
         <p>
Lincoln writes divorce decree for Mary Sinclair, plaintiff, in <name type='case' key='L04646'>Sinclair v. Sinclair</name>.
<bibl default='NO'>Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.</bibl>
         </p>
         <p>
            <person key='LI30825' teiForm='name'>Mrs. Lincoln</person> buys at John Williams' store $12.11 worth of assorted 
cloth, buttons, whalebone, and cord.
<bibl default='NO'>Pratt, <title corresp='books_Pratt3'>Personal Finances</title>, 146-47.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-06'>Wednesday, December 6, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
Lincoln writes John McLean, justice of U.S. Supreme Court, that he 
understands displacement of present clerk of U.S. Circuit Court is 
contemplated. He hopes not, for he is very friendly with incumbent. 
However, if present clerk should be removed, he recommends William 
Butler. William J. Black, also applicant, "is every way worthy of the 
office." He writes John T. Stuart's bond as receiver of Mechanics and 
Farmer's Bank, Springfield, and signs with five others.
<bibl default='NO'>
               <xref from='ROOT' url='http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln2;node=lincoln2%3A298' targOrder='U' to='DITTO'>Abraham Lincoln to John McLean</xref>, 6 December 1854, <title corresp='books_Basler2'>CW</title>, 2:291; <xref from='ROOT' url='http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln2;node=lincoln2%3A299' targOrder='U' to='DITTO'>Bond for John T. Stuart</xref>, 6 December 1854, <title corresp='books_Basler2'>CW</title>, 2:291-92.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-11'>Monday, December 11, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
In letter to Elihu B. Washburne, Congressman-elect from Galena 
district, Lincoln writes: "As to my own matter, things continue to 
look reasonably well. . . . I have not ventured to write all the 
members in your district, lest some of them should be offended by the 
indelicacy of the thing&#8212;that is, coming from a total stranger. 
Could you not drop some of them a line?" He writes to Herbert W. Fay, 
former representative from DeKalb County: "When you were in the 
legislature . . . either in jest or earnest you suggested me for 
Senator. My friends are now asking me to make the race. See the 
representatives and senator of your district and let me know what 
indorsement I may expect in that locality."
<bibl default='NO'>
               <xref from='ROOT' url='http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln2;node=lincoln2%3A301' targOrder='U' to='DITTO'>Abraham Lincoln to Elihu B. Washburne</xref>, 11 December 1854, <title corresp='books_Basler2'>CW</title>, 2:292-93; <xref from='ROOT' url='http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln2;node=lincoln2%3A300' targOrder='U' to='DITTO'>Abraham Lincoln to Herbert W. Fay</xref>, 11 December 1854, <title corresp='books_Basler2'>CW</title>, 2:292.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-12'>Tuesday, December 12, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
            <person key='LI30825' teiForm='name'>Mrs. Lincoln</person> sends Robert to John Williams' store for two spools silk thread.
<bibl default='NO'>Pratt, <title corresp='books_Pratt3'>Personal Finances</title>, 147.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline> 
            <date value='1854-12-14'>Thursday, December 14, 1854.</date> 
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>. </dateline>
         <p> Lincoln writes Washburne again:
  "So far as I am concerned, there must be something wrong about U.S. Senator, at
  Chicago. My most intimate friends there do not answer my letters; and I can not
  get a word from them. Wentworth has a knack of knowing things better than most
  men. I wish you would pump him, and write me what you get from him. Please do
  this as soon as you can, as the time is growing short." <bibl default='NO'>
               <xref from='ROOT' url='http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln2;node=lincoln2%3A302' targOrder='U' to='DITTO'>Abraham
  Lincoln to Elihu B. Washburne</xref>, 14 December 1854,
  <title corresp='books_Basler2'>CW</title>, 2:293.</bibl> 
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-15'>Friday, December 15, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
To T. J. Henderson of Stark County, who had written Lincoln that he 
was not committed, and would vote to prevent slavery extension, 
Lincoln writes careful letter. "We shall have a terrible struggle 
with our adversaries. They are desperate, and bent on desperate 
deeds." With letter he sends copy of his Peoria speech. "You may have 
seen it before; or you may not think it worth seeing now."
<bibl default='NO'>
               <xref from='ROOT' url='http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln2;node=lincoln2%3A303' targOrder='U' to='DITTO'>Abraham Lincoln to Thomas J. Henderson</xref>, 15 December 1854, <title corresp='books_Basler2'>CW</title>, 2:293-94.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-17'>Sunday, December 17, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
To Leonard Swett of Bloomington Lincoln writes: "I can not learn of a 
single copy of the Revised Code being here for sale. Sorry; but it 
seems to be so. Does the Rev. John S. Barger occassi[o]nally cross 
your path?"
<bibl default='NO'>
               <xref from='ROOT' url='http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln2;node=lincoln2%3A304' targOrder='U' to='DITTO'>Abraham Lincoln to Leonard Swett</xref>, 17 December 1854, <title corresp='books_Basler2'>CW</title>, 2:294.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-18'>Monday, December 18, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
In the U.S. Circuit Court Lincoln &amp; Herndon file declaration in <name type='case'>Collins et al. v. Cook</name>. Plaintiffs ask damages of $1,000 for failure of defendant to pay two promissory notes of $596.23 and $132.27.
<bibl default='NO'>Record.</bibl>
         </p>
         <p>
Lincoln also writes opinion on question whether Sangamon County or 
Springfield should support John Fitzgerald, pauper.
<bibl default='NO'>Photocopy; <xref from='ROOT' url='http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln2;node=lincoln2%3A305' targOrder='U' to='DITTO'>Opinion Concerning John Fitzgerald</xref>, 18 December 1854, <title corresp='books_Basler2'>CW</title>, 2:294-95.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-19'>Tuesday, December 19, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
In third letter to Washburne, Lincoln tries to overcome objection 
which one of Washburne's friends&#8212;evidently T. J. Turner, 
Representative-elect from Stephenson County&#8212;has offered to his 
candidacy. Turner has questioned whether Lincoln would be "impartial 
representative" of whole state. Lincoln answers that he is mortified 
"that any one should suspect me of an inclination to the contrary."
<bibl default='NO'>
               <xref from='ROOT' url='http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln2;node=lincoln2%3A306' targOrder='U' to='DITTO'>Abraham Lincoln to Elihu B. Washburne</xref>, 19 December 1854, <title corresp='books_Basler2'>CW</title>, 2:295.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-20'>Wednesday, December 20, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
Lincoln and Logan lose ejectment case, <name type='case' key='L02183'>Morrison v. Briggs</name>, in U.S. Circuit Court. Jury finds for plaintiff, orders that defendant restore property and pay damages of one cent.
<bibl default='NO'>Record.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-21'>Thursday, December 21, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
Lincoln is concerned with another ejectment case in U.S. Circuit Court, <name type='case' key='L02216'>Taylor v. Humphries</name>. In association with Taylor he files declaration, notice, affidavit of service, and bond for costs. In declaration plaintiff alleges that defendant, 
citizen of Kentucky, has withheld his land and damages him to extent of $5,000.
<bibl default='NO'>Record.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>

<div2 part='N' sample='complete' org='uniform'>
         <dateline>
            <date value='1854-12-23'>Saturday, December 23, 1854.</date>
            <place key='39.8000, -89.6333' teiForm='name'>Springfield, IL</place>.
</dateline>
         <p>
Special election is held to choose Lincoln's successor to 
legislature. Of 491 voters Lincoln is 38th to appear. Whig candidate, 
N. M. Broadwell, is defeated.
<bibl default='NO'>Election Returns.</bibl>
         </p>
      </div2>