Unlike you gentlemen of the profession, I think the soliloquy in Hamlet commencing “Oh, my offense is rank,” surpasses that commencing “To be or not to be.”  But pardon this small attempt at criticism.  I should like to hear you pronounce the opening speech of Richard III.  Will you not soon visit Washington again?  If you do, please call and let me make your personal acquaintance.

Yours truly,

A. LINCOLN

TO F. F. LOWE.

Washington, D. C.,
August 17, 1863.

Hon.  P. F. Lowe, San Francisco, Cal.: 

There seems to be considerable misunderstanding about the recent movement to take possession of the “New Almaden” mine.  It has no reference to any other mine or mines.

In regard to mines and miners generally, no change of policy by the
Government has been decided on, or even thought of, so far as I know.

The “New Almaden” mine was peculiar in this:  that its occupants claimed to be the legal owners of it on a Mexican grant, and went into court on that claim.  The case found its way into the Supreme Court of the United States, and last term, in and by that court, the claim of the occupants was decided to be utterly fraudulent.  Thereupon it was considered the duty of the Government by the Secretary of the Interior, the Attorney-General, and myself to take possession of the premises; and the Attorney-General carefully made out the writ and I signed it.  It was not obtained surreptitiously, although I suppose General Halleck thought it had been, when he telegraphed, simply because he thought possession was about being taken by a military order, while he knew no such order had passed through his hands as general-in-chief.

The writ was suspended, upon urgent representations from California, simply to keep the peace.  It never had any direct or indirect reference to any mine, place, or person, except the “New Almaden” mine and the persons connected with it.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE.

Executive Mansion, Washington, August 21, 1863.

Major-general Meade, Warrenton, Va.: 

At this late moment I am appealed to in behalf of William Thompson of Company K, Third Maryland Volunteers, in Twelfth Army Corps, said to be at Kelly’s Ford, under sentence to be shot to-day as a deserter.  He is represented to me to be very young, with symptoms of insanity.  Please postpone the execution till further order.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL SCHOFIELD.

Washington, D. C., August 22, 1863.

General Schofield, Saint Louis, Mo.: 

Please send me if you can a transcript of the record in the case of McQuin and Bell, convicted of murder by a military commission.  I telegraphed General Strong for it, but he does not answer.