Annotation
[1] ALS, ICHi. It seems probable that the person addressed was David A. Smith, an attorney of Jacksonville, Illinois, with whom Lincoln had long been acquainted in law practice. The possibility of its being Robert Smith of Alton, Illinois, seems less likely, in view of the fact that he was like Lincoln a member of the Thirtieth Congress, and being in Washington could very well have attended to the business indicated in the letter for himself.
[2] Joseph Gillespie of Edwardsville, Illinois.