I have been absent on the circuit seven weeks, only getting home to the election; so that I could not answer your letter of the 16th. of Octr. till now. I am for you; and have written to the Department, that if the recommendations from your own county place you on very nearly equal ground with the best of your competitors, I desire that you may be appointed. I send the letter directly to the Department thinking it may be best not to lose the time of sending it to you first. Your friend as ever, A. LINCOLN

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