Hon.  Secretary of state.

My dear sir:—­I believe it is a necessity with us to make the appointments I mentioned last night—­that is, Charles F. Adams to England, William L. Dayton to France, George P. Marsh to Sardinia, and Anson Burlingame to Austria.  These gentlemen all have my highest esteem, but no one of them is originally suggested by me except Mr. Dayton.  Mr. Adams I take because you suggested him, coupled with his eminent fitness for the place.  Mr. Marsh and Mr. Burlingame I take because of the intense pressure of their respective States, and their fitness also.

The objection to this card is that locally they are so huddled up—­three being in New England and two from a single State.  I have considered this, and will not shrink from the responsibility.  This, being done, leaves but five full missions undisposed of—­Rome, China, Brazil, Peru, and Chili.  And then what about Carl Schurz; or, in other words, what about our German friends?

Shall we put the card through, and arrange the rest afterward?  What say you?

Your obedient servant,

A. Lincoln.

TO G. E. PATTEN.

Executive Mansion, March 19, 1861.

To master Geo. Evans Patten.

Whom it may concern:—­I did see and talk with Master Geo. Evans Patten last May at Springfield, Ill.

Respectfully,

A. Lincoln.

[Written because of a denial that any interview with young Patten, then a schoolboy, had ever taken place.]

RESPONSE TO SENATE INQUIRY RE.  FORT SUMTER

Message to the Senate.

To the Senate of the united states:—­I have received a copy of the resolution of the Senate, passed on the 25th instant, requesting me, if in my opinion not incompatible with the public interest, to communicate to the Senate the despatches of Major Robert Anderson to the War Department during the time he has been in command of Fort Sumter.  On examination of the correspondence thus called for, I have, with the highest respect for the Senate, come to the conclusion that at the present moment the publication of it would be inexpedient.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

WASHINGTON, MARCH 16, 1861

PREPARATION OF FIRST NAVAL ACTION

TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR

EXECUTIVE MANSION, MARCH 29, 1861

Honorable secretary of war.

Sir:—­I desire that an expedition to move by sea be got ready to sail as early as the 6th of April next, the whole according to memorandum attached, and that you cooperate with the Secretary of the Navy for that object.