Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 2 [Sept. 3, 1848-Aug. 21, 1858].

To Charles R. Welles1Jump to section

C. R. Welles, Esq. Washington,
Dear Sir: Feb: 20. 1849

This is tuesday evening, and your letter enclosing the one of Young & Brothers2Jump to section to you, saying the money you sent by me to them had not been received, came to hand last saturday night. The facts, which are perfectly fresh in my recollection, are these: you gave me the money in a letter (open I believe) directed to Young & Brothers. To make it more secure than it would be in my hat, where I carry most all my packages, I put it in my trunk. I had a great many jobs to do in St. Louis; and by the very extra care I had taken of yours, overlooked it. On the Steam Boat near the mouth of the Ohio, I opened the trunk, and discovered the letter. I then began to cast about for some safe hand to send it back by. Mr. Yeatman,3Jump to section Judge Pope's son-in-law, and step-son of Mr. Bell of Tennessee, was on board, and was to return immediately to St. Louis from the Mouth of Cumberland. At my request, he took the

letter and promised to deliver it---and I heard no more about it till I received your letter on saturday. It so happens that Mr. Yeatman is now in this city; I called on him last night about it; he said he remembered my giving him the letter, and he could remember nothing more of it. He told me he would try to refresh his memory, and see me again concerning it to-day---which however he has not done. I will try to see him to-morrow and write you again. He is a young man, as I understand, of unquestioned, and unquestionable character; and this makes me fear some pick-pocket on the boat may have seen me give him the letter, and slipped it from him. In this way, never seeing the letter again, he would, naturally enough, never think of it again. Yours truly A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1]   ALS, IHi. Charles R. Welles was a lawyer and land agent in Springfield, representing John Grigg of Philadelphia, investor in western lands.

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[2]   A St. Louis banking firm.

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[3]   Prominent St. Louis business men, Thomas Yeatman and James E. Yeatman were brothers who married the sisters Lucretia and Cynthia Ann Pope, daughters of Judge Nathaniel Pope. The widowed mother of the Yeatman brothers had married Senator John Bell. Since, according to the Dictionary of American Biography, James did not marry Cynthia until May 5, 1851, it would seem that Lincoln here refers to Thomas Yeatman.

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