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I thank you heartily for the kind invitation conveyed in your letter of the 26th. and sincerely regret that I cannot make a positive engagement to avail myself of it. My time is subject to such constant and unexpected requisitions that I cannot unreservedly
accept any such pleasure as that you offer me, at this distance of time.
I shall be most happy to be present at an entertainment which promises so much, especially as it is in aid of so beneficent a charity as that in which you are interested, if my engagements next week will allow it. But I must beg that you will make no special arrangements in view of my presence, as I may be disappointed. If I can come, I will notify you as early as possible. Yours very truly
[A. LINCOLN.]
[1] Df, DLC-RTL. The draft is in John Hay's autograph, without signature, which is as printed in NH, X, 90. A telegram of the same date from Nicolay to Fry reads ``The President cannot promise to come. Will write you today.'' (DNA WR RG 107, Presidential Telegrams, I, 43). James R. Fry of Philadelphia wrote Lincoln on April 26, 1864:
``You will receive, in the course of a few days, a formal invitation from gentlemen representing the Great Central Fair of the Sanitary Commission, the Union League and other bodies of this city, to come hither on Wednesday the 4th day of May to attend the Grand Musical Festival which will inaugurate the Fair. As chairman of the committee having charge of the Festival, while I advise you of the proposed invitation, I solicit your attention to the importance of honoring the occasion by your acceptance of it. . . . If you can favor me with an early reply it will be of moment to enable me to send prompt invitations. . . . P.S. Other departments of the Fair begin in June, but the Musical Festival (as I state above) on Wednesday the 4th of May.'' (DLC-RTL).