To James A. Briggs1Jump to section
Dear Sir Yours of the 1st. closing with my proposition for compromise, was duly received. I will be on hand; and in due time, will notify you of the exact day. I believe, after all, I shall make a political speech of it. You have no objection?
I would like to know, in advance, whether I am also to speak, or lecture, in New-York.
Very---very---glad your election went right. Yours truly,
A. LINCOLN
P.S. I am here at court, but my address is still at Springfield, Ills. A. L.
Annotation
[1] ALS, OClWHi. The letter is written on stationery of the M'Cormack House. An earlier letter to Briggs is presumably not extant, but is mentioned in Briggs to Lincoln, November 1, 1859 (DLC-Nicolay Papers), James A. Briggs was a member of a committee arranging a lecture in Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, New York. Lincoln's earlier letter had agreed to the lecture provided the committee would accept a February date and a ``political'' speech. Briggs' reply for the committee accepted Lincoln's ``compromise'' and promised $200, adding ``I think they will arrange for a Lecture in N. Y. also, and will pay you $200 for that, with your consent.'' As the arrangements developed, however, a new committee of the Young Men's Central Republican Union, New York City, took charge, and only one speech was arranged for, at Cooper Institute of February 27, 1860. Lincoln remained under the impression that he was to speak in Brooklyn until he had reached New York to fill the engagement.