Chicago, Ills Sept. 19, 1855
Dear Sir: On monday, after I had reached the Depot, to come on here, your despach was brought me. I ran to the Telegraph office and answered briefly, and was near being left by the cars. This is the first moment I have since had to write you. When I drew the draft at Bloomington, I wrote you, in explanation, and mailed the letter within thirty minutes after I signed the draft. The draft and letter should have gone by the same mail, and I can not understand why they did not. I hope the latter has reached you before this. The explanation was, and is, that for one year---that is, two terms of court in each county---I have attended to from fifteen to seventeen, cases for the I. C. Co, in the counties of McLean & DeWitt for which I have not been paid. The exact number of the cases, and the names of the parties I could only have given, when I drew, by going down to DeWitt, which I thought scarcely necessary, particularly, as the presiding Judge added a note to my letter, stating I had performed the services, and that the charge I made was very reasonable.
I will add now, what I did not state in my former letter, that it was at Mr. Brayman's request, made two years ago, I declined taking any new case against the company, and attended to these cases as they came up from time to time, and that he paid me for this class of business up to some time in September 1854. I hope this is satisfactory. Yours truly A. LINCOLN---