Annotation
[1] Tracy, p. 141. The Harrison Literary Institute was at Philadelphia. See also the almost identical letter to F. C. Herbruger, infra. The fact that there is no letter of invitation from Carson in the Lincoln Papers is strange, especially since Herbruger's letter is preserved. The original letter to Carson has not been located, and in view of the almost identical text in Tracy, the editors have wondered whether the letter to Carson actually exists. A letter from Carson, July 19, 1860 (DLC-RTL), in which he introduces himself, as if for the first time, and offers to deliver 150 or 200 votes which he claims to control, in consideration of his appointment to a job in the postoffice or customs, is so written as to suggest that he had never before written to or received a letter from Lincoln.