Annotation
[1] AES-IHi. Lincoln's endorsement is written on the back of the following letter from Joseph J. Lewis, commissioner of Internal Revenue, to Colonel Thomas W. Sweney ``or Gustave Gumpert Esq,'' October 21, 1863:
``I presented to day the accompanying letter of the President to Mr Secretary Chase. He considered that under the regulations of the department the whole matter was in the hands of Mr Mellon, supervising special agent; and that nothing that he could write could be of more avail than what the President had already written.
``I have no doubt that Mr Chase's view of the subject is correct and that Mr Mellon will regard the expression of the Presidents wishes as equivalent to a command within the limits of his legal authority.''
The ``accompanying letter of the President to Mr Secretary Chase'' has not been found, and the matter under discussion has not been determined.