John T. Stuart leaves to take seat in Congress. Lincoln signalizes his partner's departure for Washington by entering in firm's fee book, "Commencement of Lincoln's Administration."Stuart & Lincoln fee book.

He does preliminary paper work in two Sangamon Circuit Court cases, writing and signing "Stuart & Lincoln" to declaration in Calvin Kendall v. Willis G. Moffett, and declaration and praecipe in Henry Kendall v. James F. Hardin & John R. Reagor.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

He writes to William Doughty of Tremont, where he left his coat. He asks Doughty, keeper of Franklin Tavern, to buy length of coarse domestic (for which Lincoln will pay), wrap it around coat, tie in bundle with enclosed addressed card showing, "and hand the bundle to the Stage driver on his trip towards Springfield."Abraham Lincoln to William Doughty, 2 November 1839, CW, 1:154.

Lincoln writes article published in "Sangamo Journal" on history of state bank at Springfield. He replies to several critical articles in "Illinois State Register," saying bank is not solely Whig institution, but was advocated by many Democrats, including Gen. Ewing, Senator Will, Judge Theophilus Smith, Col. J. A. McClernand, and Col. J. Fry. He writes notice (published December 5, 1839) for complainant, David Bruner, in case of petition for partition of real estate in Bruner v. Bruner et al., that affidavits of nonresidents in case must be filed before trial at May term of Tazewell Circuit Court.Sangamo Journal, 8 November 1839, 5 December 1839.

Lincoln files declaration in U.S. Circuit Court in Hooper, Martin, & Smith v. Haines & Son, alleging failure of defendant to pay promissory note for $567.28, and debt of $12.63.Record.

Lincoln takes for collection three notes of D. B. Hill to Kerr & Co. totaling $2,045.78.Stuart & Lincoln fee book.

Lincoln, representing plaintiffs, moves continuance of Sears et al. v. Siemers et al., petition to make title to tract of land. Case is continued to June term of Menard Circuit Court.Record.

Lincoln writes praecipe in Clark et al. v. Holland, for plaintiffs, Henry Clark, James Baxter, and William Baxter, trespass and damages ($500).Photocopy.

Lincoln writes Stuart that Douglas has given up contest to get Stuart's seat in Congress. He believes Noah W. Matheny will be elected to succeed C. R. Matheny, his father, as county clerk. Lincoln fears outcome of approaching legislative contest between T. J. Nance (Dem.) and John Bennett (Whig).Abraham Lincoln to John T. Stuart, 14 November 1839, CW, 1:154.

Election is held to fill unexpired term of Charles R. Matheny, county clerk. Lincoln votes for Noah W. Matheny, who is elected over Edmund Taylor, 966 to 653.Journal, 23 November 1839.

Lincoln writes answer of Jesse Ditson filed in State Bank of Illinois v. Quinton et al.Photocopy.

"Register" fires two shots at Lincoln and Whig associates. Commenting on Lincoln's bank article of November 8, 1839, opposition paper says: "The longest of the long-nine" says state bank is "our dog and we may whip it." Also complained of is "dictation" of "Springfield Junto" in selecting candidate for special election to fill House vacancy. "Would Mr. Lincoln be likely to urge a candidate upon the people, unless he were well assured that he would, if elected, go the whole hog with the Springfield Junto members?"Register, 16 November 1839.

[Sangamon Circuit Court opens three-week session. Judge Treat presides.]

Week of political debate begins. Cyrus Walker leads off for Whigs and Douglas replies. Lincoln closes debate.Register, 23 November 1839.

terms it plot of "two pluck one," and accuses Lincoln of an assumed clownishness he is advised to correct. He files replication in Atwood & Jones v. Douglas & Wright.Record.

Debate continues with Douglas discussing national bank. Lincoln replies, beginning, says Register (November 23, 1839), with embarrassment and continuing without making the slightest impression. "Mr. L. of Wednesday night was not the L. of Tuesday." Lincoln writes and signs joinder in demurrer in Foley Vaughn v. Wharton Ransdell.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln's demurrer, filed yesterday in Vaughn v. Ransdell, is sustained in part, and leave given to amend declaration, and case is continued. He files demurrer in Atwood & Jones v. Douglas & Wright.Record.

He writes and signs declaration for plaintiff, John Foutch, in Foutch v. Thomas et al.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

[Special election to fill vacancy caused by John Calhoun's resignation from legislature is held. Vote is close in district which includes Sangamon, Logan, Menard, and Dane counties. Thomas J. Nance wins by 36 votes.Theodore C. Pease, ed., Illinois Election Returns, 1818-1848, vol. 18 of Collections of the Illinois State Historical Library (Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1923), 328; Register, 30 November 1839; Abraham Lincoln to John T. Stuart, 14 November 1839, CW, 1:154.]

Lincoln gets judgment for $440.14 in John & Augustus Kerr & Co. v. Constant & Francis. Court awards him $7 for survey and report in Butler v. Tilford et al. [T. M. Neale made survey.]Record; Deed Book F, 80; Photocopy.

Carman & Carman v. Glasscock et al., trespass case involving loss of boatload of corn on fish-trap dam on Sangamon River, is continued on Lincoln's motion. He argues assumpsit suit of Hay v. Lasswell before jury. Lasswell has failed to deliver 100 cords of wood to Hay's brickyard. Unable to agree, jury is discharged. He writes all papers of these two cases—affidavit, declaration, memorandum, and, for good measure, writes administrator's report in Patterson et al. v. Casey et al.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Lincoln gets judgment in two cases, Kendall v. Moffett for $157.90, and Atwood & Jones v. Douglas & Wright for $568.22. Stockton v. Tolly, suit for damages to cook stove, is dismissed at plaintiff's cost. Lincoln appears for defendant. He files answer as guardian in Levica Davenport, adm. of Marshall Davenport v. William Davenport et al.Record.

In Rhoda Hart v. John Sackett et al., he writes answer of Antrim Campbell, guardian, and decree of court approving sale of land.Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Article in Sangamo Journal on Douglas' pretensions to Stuart's seat in Congress is probably from Lincoln's pen. He files report for complainant, John W. Patterson, in Patterson et al. v. Casey et al., and case is continued, along with Trotter v. Arnold & Fairchild.Record.

Lincoln writes answer of J. A. Brown filed in State Bank of Illinois v. Quinton et al.Photocopy.

Chicago American of November 29, 1839 notices Lincoln's labors on stump.

Lincoln has two cases called. He moves to dismiss Lockwood v. Wernwag and agrees to three months stay of execution in Kendall v. Moffett. He writes bill of exceptions for Nathaniel Hay, plaintiff, in Hay v. Lasswell & Mock. He earns $5 for services as commissioner in Huston v. Bogue, on making report. [On March 25, 1840, Lincoln took Kendall v. Moffett execution to Schuyler County, but nothing was realized for want of bidders. Docket D.] Record; Herndon-Weik Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.