Private &
confidential
Executive Mansion,
Washington, Oct. 26.
1863.
Hon. E. B. Washburne
My dear Sir
Yours of the 12th. has been in my hands several days.
Inclosed I send the leave of absence for your brother, in
as good form as I think I can safely put it. Without knowing whether he would
accept it, I have tendered the Collectorship at Portland, Me, to your other
brother, the Governor.
Thanks to both you and our friend Campbell,
for your kind words and intentions. A second term would be a
great honor and a great labor, which together, perhaps I would not decline, if
tendered.
Yours truly
A. LINCOLN
SOURCE: Roy P. Basler, editor, Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln,
Volume 6, p. 540
