PREFACE. 66 IF the opinion of a large body of correspondents is reliable, the reading-public have derived some pleasure from my " Recollections of President Lincoln and his Administration." The chief attraction of that book must lie in its great central figure. If, as these correspondents claim, it has other merits, I think they are comprised in the fact that the subjects are personal, and each is treated separately in a chapter of no great length. It was also my purpose to describe persons and events without exaggeration or prejudice, just as they appeared to me at the time. The present volume is written in the same spirit and on the same plan. While it lacks the great central attraction of the "Recollections," I sincerely hope that each subject will be found to possess an interest or to point a moral which will justify its publication. I have an impression that truth is just as attractive in a book as it is in the ordinary transactions of life. If there is any false statement of fact herein, it has escaped my notice and has been unintentionally made. No chronological or other order of subjects has been attempted. Observations upon birds follow remarks upon the financial policy of Secretary Chase without any infringement of my design. Each chapter except the "Study" is substantially complete in itself, and must stand or fall upon its own merits. I offer no excuses, I do not attempt to forestall criticism. If any chapter is unworthy of a place in the literature of the time, I have simply made an error of judgment and must bear the penalty. I shall feel greatly disappointed if there is a sentence in it which shall pain any reader or lead him to wish that the volume had not been written. It is more local than I could wish, but that is perhaps unavoidable. The "Study" which closes the book is not within its original scope. It is an attempt to show what the qualities were which made Mr. Lincoln greatwhich as a political leader, an orator, a writer of English prose, a statesman, a military strategist, a friend and benefactor of humanity, so elevated and made him the foremost man of his time. If I have succeeded only partially, I have shown to my young countrymen how they may emulate his noble purposes and perpetuate his fame, that- "While the races of mankind endure, So shall his great example stand Colossal, glorious, seen in every land To keep the soldier firm, the statesman pure." L. E. CHITTENDEN. NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 1893. CONTENTS. V. THE THIRD HOUSE JOURNAL-HOW WE RE- VI.-WOODEN SIDE JUDGES OF THE COUNTY COURTS, VII. THE VERMONT FLOODWOOD OR RIGHT ARM OF 47 XXIX. THE BOOK CHASE-NON-EXISTENCE OF UNIQUE COPIES A HUNT FOR "SANDERS' INDIAN WARS" AND "THE CONTRAST, THE FIRST XXXI.-LAW AS A PROGRESSIVE SCIENCE - IS PRO- GRESS ALWAYS AN ADVANCE?-CIRCUMSTAN- XXXIII.—ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CONTINUED): HIS FAIL- URES-THE FARM LABORER; THE FLAT-BOAT- MAN; THE FIGHTER; THE MERCHANT; THE XXXIV.-ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CONTINUED): HIS SUC- CESSES-THE LAWYER; THE ADVOCATE; THE POPULAR MAN, |