in regard to the meeting was in getting up an audience....  I remember in handing some weeks earlier to John Sherman, who, like Lincoln, had never before spoken in New York, five ten-dollar gold pieces, that he said he “had not expected his expenses to be paid.”  At a lunch that was given to Sherman a long time afterward, I referred to that meeting.  Sherman cocked his eye at me and said:  “Yes, I remember it very well; I never was so scar’t in all my life.” ...

The observations of Judge Nott in regard to the meeting are about as just as anything that has ever been put into print, and as I concur fully in the accuracy of these recollections, I do not undertake to give my own impressions at any length.  I was expecting to hear some specimen of Western stump-speaking as it was then understood.  You will, of course, observe that the speech contains nothing of the kind.  I do remember, however, that Lincoln spoke of the condition of feeling between the North and the South....  He refers to the treatment which Northern men received in the South, and he remarked, parenthetically, that he had never known of a man who had been able “to whip his wife into loving him,” an observation that produced laughter.

In making up the notes, we ransacked, as you may be sure, all the material available in the libraries in New York, and I also had interviews as to one special point with Mr. Bancroft, with Mr. Hildreth, and with Dr. William Goodell, who was in those times a famous anti-slavery man.

Your father[3] and William Curtis Noyes were possibly more completely in sympathy than any other two men in New York, with the efforts of these younger men; they impressed me as standing in that respect on the same plane.  The next man to them was Charles Wyllis Elliott, the author of a History of New England.  We never went to your father for advice or assistance when he failed to help us, and he was always so kindly and gentle in what he did and said that every one of us youngsters acquired for him a very great affection.  He always had time to see us and was always on hand when he was wanted, and if we desired to have anything, we got it if he had it.  Neither your father, nor Mr. Noyes, nor for that matter Mr. Elliott, ever suggested that we were “young” or “fresh” or anything of that sort.  The enthusiasm which young fellows have was always recognised by these men as an exceedingly valuable asset in the cause....  Pardon all this from a “veteran,” and believe me,

    Sincerely yours,

    CEPHAS BRAINERD.

INTRODUCTION

BY CHARLES C. NOTT