one here but your friend Mr. Sumner and myself shall have any knowledge of your position.  Think it over tonight, and if you can accept the mission come up and see me at nine o’clock tomorrow morning.’  When I took my leave of him, he said, ’I hope you will decide to serve us.’  The position thus offered was one not suited to my tastes, but, as Mr. Lincoln appeared very desirous that I should accept it, I concluded to lay aside my prejudices and accept the responsibilities of the mission.  I was also persuaded to this conclusion by the wishes of my friend, Mr. Sumner.

“At nine o’clock next morning, I waited upon the President, and announced my decision.  He grasped my hand in a hearty manner, and said:  ’Thank you, thank you; I am glad of it.  You must help us to circumvent the machinations of the rebel agents in Canada.  There is no doubt they will use your country as a communicating link with Europe, and also with their friends in New York.  It is quite possible, also, that they may make Canada a base from which to harass and annoy our people along the frontier.’

“After a lengthy conversation relative to private matters connected with my mission, I rose to leave, when he said, ’I will walk down to Willard’s with you; the hotel is on my way to the Capitol, where I have an engagement at noon.’  Before we reached the hotel a man came up to the President and thrust a letter into his hand, at the same time applying for some office in Wisconsin.  I saw that the President was offended at the rudeness, for he passed the letter back without looking at it, saying, ‘No, sir!  I am not going to open shop here.’  This was said in a most emphatic manner, but accompanied by a comical gesture which caused the rejected applicant to smile.  As we continued our walk, the President spoke of the annoyances incident to his position, saying:  ’These office-seekers are a curse to the country; no sooner was my election certain, than I became the prey of hundreds of hungry, persistent applicants for office, whose highest ambition is to feed at the Government crib.’  When he bade me good-bye, he said, ’Let me hear from you once a week at least.’  As he turned to leave me, a young army officer stopped him and made some request, to which the President replied with a good deal of humor, ’No, I can’t do that; I must not interfere; they would scratch my eyes out if I did.  You must go to the proper department.’

“Some time later,” says Mr. Ross, “I again visited Washington.  On my arrival there (about midnight) I went direct to the Executive Mansion, and sent my card to the President, who had retired.  In a few minutes the porter returned and requested me to accompany him to the President’s office, where Mr. Lincoln would shortly join me.  The room into which I was ushered was the same in which I had spent several hours with the President on the occasion of my first interview with him.  Scattered about the floor and lying open on the table were several