[1] Copy, ISLA, furnished by Frank E. Blane, Petersburg, Illinois. John D. Swallow was a resident of Postville in Logan County. Lincoln's note was written on the back of Swallow's letter of June 15, which reads in part as follows:
``I sold to A. Edmons my mill for two states Ioway and Wisconsin gave a warety deed for the mill---there seems to be, a spurias title as to the pattent with others I instituted a suit in chancery. Now if Edmons should want money and a stranger to the suit should loan him money and take a mortgage on the property (some three days after the record of the suit or bill was filed and notice served on Edmons---) will that mortgage be valid in and sustained at law---and if a piece of land was given for a pattent right and that right proves void and four months after a person comes and makes a purchase of said land in good faith an entire stranger to Edmons and the suit---can the purchaser hold the land at law[.] please write by return mail. yours Respectfully J. D. SWALLOW''