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LINCOLN ROOM 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/booksthatlincolnOOhous 
 
The Books That Lincoln Read 
 
 M. L. HOUSER 
 
 PEORIA, ILLINOIS 
 
 1929 
 
Foreword 
 
 This monograph was originally written for my friend 
 Edward J. Jacob. Minister Continually and Printer Extraordi- 
 nary to the Court of Lincoln Fellowship; and he published it 
 in a limited edition of de luxe pamphlets for our collector 
 friends. 
 
 With his approval, I am now having it reprinted in ordinary 
 form for other friends who may have a special or a casual 
 interest in the subject. 
 
 Many of the wisest of our generation, both at home and 
 abroad, have believed the influences which effected the evolu- 
 tion of Lincoln to be worthy of their keen interest and earnest 
 study; the rest of us, therefore, need not fear that such a study 
 will fail to prove interesting, instructive, and profitable. 
 
 It is hoped that a work containing a review of each of the 
 books that are known to have been influential in the intellectual 
 development of Lincoln, and written by someone possessing 
 the requisite ability, will soon be forthcoming. Anyone writing 
 such a book with discrimination will make every Lincoln 
 student his debtor. 
 
 M. L. H. 
 
 Copyrignt, 1929 
 M. L. HOUSER 
 Peoria, Illinois 
 

 The Books That Lincoln Read 
 
 Many of Mr. Lincoln's biographers have remarked how much his 
 intellectual development was affected by books, and how little it was 
 influenced by schools. He was a voracious reader of informative litera- 
 ture, and his ability to retain what he read was the wonder of his 
 associates. 
 
 His interest in some of his books was consuming; in others, it was 
 probably only casual; in a few, it may have been negligible. From the 
 mention made by those biographers who have referred to the subject, 
 it is sometimes impossible to determine whether he read an entire volume 
 with profound interest, or only some of the author's stray writings 
 with scant attention. 
 
 Just which of his books should be placed in a primary list as most 
 important, which in a secondary list as less important, and which should 
 be omitted as unimportant, are questions to which each student will 
 probably give a different answer. 
 
 In the following list are included only (1) those books which 
 biographers have mentioned that Lincoln read, and (2) those which 
 had for him enough interest that he added them to his own library. 
 The reader will note that this list includes Text-Books, both Prose and 
 Poetic Literature, and works in Biography, History, Natural Science, 
 Military Science, Philosophy, Law, Government, Politics, Humor, and 
 Religion. Within the space that is available, there can be given only a 
 bare list of the most important of those books that he is known to 
 have read, with a brief mention of some that are believed to have 
 influenced him most, or to have had for him the greatest interest. 
 
 (1) 
 
 Webster's - - - Spelling Book 
 
 In Lincoln's day, this little book was often the only one a child 
 studied until he was ready to use the Bible as a text-book. Phonetics 
 is taught in it, and diacritical marks are used throughout. The spelling 
 exercises start with easy words like "ba" and "ca," and advance by 
 easy gradations to "words of eight syllables, accented on the sixth," 
 like "un in tel li gi bil i ty" and "in com pre hen si bil i ty." It has 168 
 pages, some of which contain over 100 words. Appended to many of 
 
 5 
 
Duplicates 
 
 of 
 
 Books Lincoln Read 
 
 (In writer's collection) 
 
the word lists are sentences useful in teaching the learner to read. Taken 
 almost at random through the book are the following: 
 
 "She fed the old hen." 
 "Careless girls mislay their things." 
 "Blasphemy is contemptuous treatment of God." 
 "The science of astronomy explains the cause of day and night." 
 "Epistolatory correspondence is carried on by letters." 
 "A loquacious companion is sometimes a great torment." 
 "It is every man's duty to bequeath to his children a rich inheri- 
 tance of pious precepts." 
 Following the words to be spelled, and the sentences to be read, are 
 several illustrated reading lessons, mostly fables. One of these is the 
 touching story of Old Dog Tray, who was severely punished as a result 
 of his being caught in bad company. Then follow lessons in homonyms, 
 rules for spelling, syllabication, the Roman numerals, foreign deriva- 
 tives, and punctuation. A child who mastered this little book might be 
 expected to spell correctly, but to write stiltedly. 
 
 (2) 
 
 DlLWORTH's -------- Spelling Book 
 
 (3) 
 
 MURRAY'S -------- English Reader 
 
 The complete title is: 
 
 "The English Reader, or Pieces in Prose and Verse, selected 
 from the Best Writers, Designed to assist Young Persons to read 
 with Propriety and Effect; to Improve their Language and Senti- 
 ments, and to inculcate some of the most important principles of 
 Piety and Virtue." 
 
 Its 250 pages are divided between "Pieces in Prose" and "Pieces in 
 Poetry." The first part contains Narrative ( 7 ) , Didactic (15), Descrip- 
 tive (14), Pathetic (7), and Promiscuous (27) prose "Pieces," besides 
 Dialogs (3) and Public Speeches (5). The second part is divided into 
 Narrative (6), Didactic (11), Descriptive (9). Pathetic (8), and 
 Promiscuous (23) poetic "Pieces." Among the authors represented are 
 Blair, Hume, Dr. Johnson, Addison, Goldsmith, Milton, and Cowper. 
 Mr. Lincoln once said that he believed this to be the best book that had 
 ever been put into the hands of a child. 
 
 < 4 > 
 
 SCOTT'S - - Lessons in Elocution 
 
 The 436 pages of "Lessons in Elocution: or, A Selection of Pieces 
 
 in Prose and Verse, for the improvement of Youth in Reading and 
 
 Speaking," by William Scott, are crowded with selected passages, and 
 
 entire poems, taken from the writings of Knox, Blair, Gibbon, Robert- 
 
 7 
 
THOMAS LINCOLN'S BIBLE 
 
son, Sterne, Johnson, Hume, Goldsmith, Pope, Young, Milton, Gray, 
 Cowper, Dryden, and other great English writers. The larger part o' 
 one whole section is devoted to Shakespearian gems. It also contains 
 lessons in the "Elements of Gesture," and many "Concise Passages, 
 exemplifying Certain Particulars, on the Proper Expression of which, 
 the Modulation and Management of the Voice, in Reading and Speaking 
 Principally Depend." A copy in the writer's collection was printed in 
 1805 by Robert Bailey at Lancaster, Penn. 
 
 (5) 
 
 The Kentucky Preceptor 
 
 This work is a school reader that Lincoln found in the home 
 of Josiah Crawford, for whom he sometimes worked. The name of the 
 compiler is unknown. The book contains many essays, speeches, ora- 
 tions, sermons, and poems — all largely from American sources. The 
 copy that Lincoln studied, and from which he memorized many 
 "pieces," is now in the collection of Mr. Oliver R. Barrett. 
 
 (6) 
 LOWE'S Columbian Class Book 
 
 This book, also, is a collection of choice selections from the works 
 of great writers. From it and the other three last mentioned above, 
 young Lincoln probably secured, while yet a boy in Indiana, a better 
 understanding of the masters of English prose and verse than was ever 
 acquired by some of his biographers who have shed scalding tears over 
 his early ignorance and lack of opportunity. 
 
 (7) 
 KlRKHAM's --------- Grammar 
 
 Young Lincoln's wide reading of English and American classics 
 before he removed to Illinois, made him acquainted with the best usages 
 of the language; but he knew little of its theory and rules before arriving 
 at New Salem. There, on the advice of Mentor Graham, he studied the 
 Kirkham book, and soon mastered it. Only a casual examination of the 
 work reveals that many college students of today would find its compre- 
 hension difficult. Dr. Barton says that it makes a modern language text- 
 book appear like "a treatise for the feeble-minded." The initial sentence 
 of the first note, which, presumably, is intended to clarify the subject 
 for a young mind, reads: 
 
 "Perhaps no subject has, in this age, elicited more patient re- 
 search, and critical investigation of original, constituent principles, 
 formations, and combinations, than the English language." 
 However, the definitions are concise, there are many explanatory 
 paragraphs that really explain, and there are frequent lists of questions 
 
 9 
 
which enabled the student to test his memory and his understanding of 
 what he had been studying. One who mastered this work obtained a 
 good knowledge of grammar as a science, and the ability to speak and 
 write the language correctly. 
 
 (8) 
 
 Blair's ----- - Rhetoric 
 
 Henry B. Rankin claimed that Lincoln studied Blair while living 
 at New Salem, probably in collaboration with Ann Rutledge. 
 
 (9) 
 Pike's --------- Arithmetick 
 
 The complete title reads: 
 
 "A New and Complete System of Arithmetick, composed for 
 the use of Citizens of the United States. By Nicholas Pike, A. M. 
 A. A. S." 
 
 According to the Preface: 
 
 "The demand for this work ftill continuing, notwithftanding 
 the publication of other works on Arithmetick and the higher 
 branches of Mathematicks, is evidence of its intrinfick merit, and has 
 induced the Proprietors of the copy-right to prefent the publick 
 with a new and improved Edition." 
 Its 300 pages are full of rules, problems, examples, and tables. 
 
 Starting with rather easy problems, it gradually grows more difficult. 
 
 On page 196, is the following problem: 
 
 "An ignorant fop wanting to purchafe an elegant houfe, a 
 facetious gentleman told him he had one which he would fell him 
 on thefe moderate terms, viz. that he fhould give him a cent for the 
 firft door, 2 cents for the fecond, 4 cents for the third, and fo on, 
 doubling at every door which were 36 in all; it is a bargain, cried 
 the fimpleton, and here is a guinea to bind it; Pray what did the 
 houfe coft him? 
 
 D. 687194767 35c. Ans." 
 After that, the problems continue to grow more difficult. If this 
 is the arithmetic which his father "determined" that Abraham should 
 "cipher clear through," Thomas was an ambitious determiner. At 
 school, Abraham probably learned to cipher only to the Rule of Three, 
 as he once stated. That was as far as most rural teachers of that day 
 could take their pupils. Before studying algebra and geometry, however, 
 he must have gone farther under private tutorship. 
 
 (10) 
 
 DAY'S - Algebra 
 
 10 
 
(11) 
 
 GIBSON'S --------- Surveying 
 
 The complete title of this work is: 
 
 "The Theory and Practice of Surveying; containing All the 
 Instructions requisite for the skillful practice of this Art. By Robert 
 Gibson." 
 
 There are chapters on Decimal Fractions, Involution and Evolution, 
 Geometry, Triganometry, Mensuration of Areas, Levelling, Instru- 
 ments, and so on, followed by Tables. 
 
 (12) 
 
 Flint's - - Surveying 
 
 (13) 
 
 SlMSON'S - - Euclid 
 
 While traveling over the circuit, after his return from Congress, Mr. 
 Lincoln carried a copy of this work in his pocket, and completely mas- 
 tered it. He began its study that he might gain a thorough under- 
 standing of what the term "demonstrate" means. 
 
 (14) 
 
 OMSTEAD'S - - - Astronomy 
 
 BAILEY'S ------ Etymological Dictionary 
 
 (16) 
 Webster's -------- Dictionaries 
 
 (17) 
 
 CRUDEN'S - - Concordance 
 
 (18) 
 
 Neilson's ------- Exercises in Greek 
 
 (19) 
 
 WEEMS' - - - Life of Washington 
 
 The complete title of this little book is: 
 
 "A History of the Life and Death, Virtues and Exploits of 
 General George Washington, with Curious Anecdotes equally Hon- 
 orable to Himself and Exemplary to his Young Countrymen, by 
 Mason L. Weems, formerly Rector of Mount Vernon Parish." 
 
 In it was first told the cherry-tree story, and about George's saying, 
 "I can't tell a lie, Pa; you know I can't tell a lie. I did cut it with my 
 hatchet." From this book, young Lincoln acquired a reverence for 
 Washington which he never lost — nor wished to lose. 
 
 11 
 
(20) 
 
 RAMSEY'S ------- Life of Washington 
 
 (21) 
 
 WEEMS' - - Life of Marion 
 
 (22) 
 
 WlRT'S - - Life of Patrick Henry 
 
 (23) 
 
 FRANKLIN'S - - - Autobiography 
 
 (24) 
 
 HOLLAND'S ----- - Martin Van Buren 
 
 (25) 
 
 Plutarch's _____ Lives 
 
 Plutarch (46-125 A.D.) was a Greek scholar and writer. His 
 "Lives" contains character sketches of many Greek and Roman celebri- 
 ties, and it is our primary authority for countless facts of ancient history. 
 Mr. Lincoln first read this book after his nomination for the Presidency. 
 In the campaign biography of Lincoln which Scripps wrote in 1860, the 
 statement was made that Lincoln had read Plutarch. Wishing the 
 biography to be strictly accurate even in minor particulars, Lincoln pro- 
 cured a copy of the "Lives," and read it through. 
 
 (26) 
 
 Burke's (?) Life of Burke 
 
 (27) 
 
 Drake's - - Life of Black Hawk 
 
 (28) 
 
 GRIMSHAW'S - History of the United States 
 
 (29) 
 ROLLIN'S -------- Ancient History 
 
 This work was originally written in French, and published in 
 thirteen volumes. Although it has little historical value, it was at one 
 time exceedingly popular. Mr. Lincoln read Rollin while in business 
 with William Berry at New Salem. 
 
 (30) 
 
 WORCESTER'S Ancient and Modern History 
 
 (31) 
 
 Gibbon's - - Roman Empire 
 
 12 
 
(32) 
 
 HALLAM'S Middle Ages 
 
 (33) 
 
 FORD'S - _____ History of Illinois 
 
 (34) 
 
 RILEY'S Narrative (Brig Commerce) 
 
 (35) 
 
 FLINT'S - - First White Man (Daniel Boone) 
 
 (36) 
 
 CHAMBERS' Vestiges of Creation 
 
 This book was first published anonymously at Edinburg, in 1844. 
 It teaches that creation comes through natural laws which work out the 
 purposes of Divine will. It was the forerunner of our theory of Evolu- 
 tion, which came many years later. The headings of a few of its chap- 
 ters will give some idea of its scope: 
 
 Chapter 2, Constituent materials of the Earth. 
 
 Chapter 6, Secondary Rocks * * * Commencement of Land 
 
 plants. 
 Chapter 1 1, Era of Superficial Formations — Commencement of 
 
 present Species. 
 Chapter 18, Purpose and General condition of the Animated 
 Creation. 
 
 That this scheme of creation does not purport to displace God, is 
 indicated near the close of the first chapter, where we read: 
 
 "Whence have come all these beautiful regulations? Here science 
 leaves us, but only to conclude, from other grounds, that there is a 
 First Cause to which all others are secondary and ministrative, a 
 primitive almighty will, of which these laws are merely the man- 
 dates." 
 
 Mr. Lincoln read this book through in the first edition, and again 
 in the sixth. Herndon claimed that Lincoln was profoundly impressed 
 by it, and that he accepted the development theory which it taught. 
 
 (37) 
 
 CLAUSEWITZ' ------- War 
 
 Karl von Clausewitz ( 1780-1831 ) was a Prussian general and an 
 eminent authority on military science. His writings are of great value, 
 and have led to a considerable change in the theory of war. While 
 Lincoln read other works on the subject, it is believed that it was prin- 
 cipally through the study of Clausewitz that he gained so thorough 
 an understanding of the fundamental nature of war. 
 
 13 
 
(38) 
 
 HALLECK'S - - War 
 
 (39) 
 
 BACON'S - - Essays 
 
 (40) 
 
 Mill's Liberty 
 
 (41) 
 
 CHANDLER'S - Elements of Character 
 
 (42) 
 BURKE'S -------- Sublime and Beautiful 
 
 (43) 
 
 Wealth and Worth 
 
 The complete title of this little book, published anonymously by 
 Harpers in 1856, is, "Wealth and Worth; or, Which makes the Man?" 
 It is a plain, old-fashioned story, written to inculcate the thought that 
 wealth is as nothing compared to worth in man. On the title page is 
 one of Mr. Lincoln's favorite quotations, taken from Burns, 
 
 "The honest man, though e'er sae poor, 
 Is king of men for a' that." 
 
 The copy which Mr. Lincoln owned, and which contains his 
 autograph, is now in the collection of Hon. James W. Bollinger of 
 Davenport, Iowa. 
 
 (44) 
 
 Arabian Nights 
 
 The "Arabian Nights" is said to be a collection of about 250 
 Persian, Arabian, and Egyptian stories. These tales were collected and 
 ingeniously strung together, probably in Egypt, about the middle of the 
 sixteenth century. When translated into the modern languages, first by 
 Galland in 1704, they immediately gained a great popularity. Young 
 Lincoln, while a boy in Indiana, read these stories, particularly those 
 about Sindbad the Sailor, with much delight. 
 
 (45) 
 
 Aesop's - - Fables 
 
 Aesop is supposed to have lived in the seventh century B. C, and to 
 have been the author of the fables which bear his name. They were first 
 gathered together and published at Athens about 320 B. C. When a 
 boy, Lincoln read these fables, and found them charming. Many believe 
 that their influence is discernable in his later practice of clarifying a 
 thought by the use of an apt illustration or story. 
 
 15 
 
(46) 
 
 BUNYAN's - - - - Pilgrim's Progress 
 
 (47) 
 DEFOE'S -------- Robinson Crusoe 
 
 (48) 
 
 STOWE's - Uncle Tom's Cabin 
 
 (49) 
 
 COOPER'S - - Leather Stocking Tales 
 
 (50) 
 HENTZ' ----------- Novels 
 
 Mrs. Caroline Lee Hentz' novels are tales of Southern life, and are 
 said to have had considerable vogue at one time. Judging by "Linda; 
 or, The Young Pilot of the Belle Creole," in the writer's collection, 
 these stories are of the Mrs. E. N. D. Southworth and Bertha M. Clay 
 type. In the story mentioned, the reader is expected to weep over an 
 angelic heroine, a weak father, a cruel stepmother, a designing step- 
 brother, and a hero who twice rescues Linda from death — at their first 
 two meetings. (And the villain still pursued her.) 
 
 Homer's 
 
 (51) 
 
 Iliad and Odyssey 
 
 (52) 
 
 Shakespeare's --------- Plays 
 
 Shakespeare was Mr. Lincoln's favorite among the poets. Scott's 
 "Lessons," which he studied while a boy in Indiana, contains many 
 choice selections from Shakespeare's writings. Arnold says that Lincoln 
 usually kept a copy of Shakespeare's plays in his pocket when he trav- 
 eled over the circuit, and that he read them during spare moments. 
 
 (53) 
 Burns' ----------- Poems 
 
 Next to Shakespeare, Lincoln loved Burns. He committed to mem- 
 ory, and often recited, "Holy Willie's Prayer." Other favorites were 
 "Tarn o' Shanter" and "A Man's a Man for a' That." 
 
 Byron's 
 
 Browning's 
 
 (54) 
 
 (55) 
 
 16 
 
 Poems 
 
 Poems 
 
(56) 
 COOK'S ----------- Poems 
 
 Eliza Cook is best remembered as the author of the poem beginning: 
 
 "I love it, I love it; and who shall dare 
 To chide me for loving that old arm chair?" 
 
 (57) 
 
 Holmes' 
 
 Poems 
 
 Mr. Lincoln thought "The Last Leaf" one of the best examples of 
 pathos in our language, being particularly impressed with the stanza: 
 
 "The mossy marbles rest 
 On the lips that he had pressed 
 In their bloom; 
 
 And the names he loved to hear 
 Have been carved for many a year 
 On the tomb." 
 
 (58) 
 
 Hood's 
 
 Poems 
 
 (59) 
 
 Knox' 
 Immortality, 
 
 Poems 
 
 ' or "Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?" 
 was Lincoln's favorite poem. He first saw it in a newspaper, and com- 
 mitted it to memory. For twenty years, he unsuccessfully sought for the 
 name of the author — William Knox, a native of Scotland. During the 
 Civil War, General James Grant Wilson, another Scotsman, told him 
 the author's name, and presented him with a copy of Knox' poems. 
 
 (60) 
 
 Longfellow's 
 
 Poems 
 
 POE'S 
 
 (61) 
 
 Poems 
 
 Pope's 
 
 (62) 
 
 Poems 
 
 Young's 
 
 Willis' 
 
 (63) 
 
 (64) 
 
 17 
 
 Night Thoughts 
 
 Poems 
 
■> +' . ■ ■ «.'"■ 
 
(65) 
 
 WHITMAN'S - Leaves of Grass 
 
 Mr. Lincoln loved Walt Whitman's verse, and admired Whitman 
 as a man. His attention was first called to that writer by hearing a 
 discussion of "Leaves of Grass" in the Lincoln & Herndon office. On 
 picking up the book, he found in it so much of interest that he requested 
 it be left on the office table, so it would at all times be available. At 
 Washington, he was deeply touched by the poet's ministrations to the 
 sick and wounded, and gave Whitman the fullest hospital privileges. 
 Once on seeing Whitman pass, he said, "There goes a MAN." 
 
 (66) 
 
 Statutes of Indiana 
 
 The "Revised Laws of Indiana" (1824) is probably the first 
 law book that Lincoln ever read. David Turnham, a Justice of the 
 Peace for whom he sometimes worked, loaned him the use of it, possibly 
 coached him in its study. Besides the laws of the State, it contains the 
 Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, the 
 first twelve Amendments, the Virginia Act ceding the Northwest Terri- 
 tory to the United States, the Act admitting Indiana into the Union, 
 and the first Indiana State constitution. The copy of this work that 
 young Lincoln studied is now in the collection of Mr. William H. 
 Townsend. 
 
 (67) 
 
 Statutes of Illinois 
 
 Mr. Lincoln's initial acquaintance with the Illinois statutes was 
 made during his first winter in the State, while laid up with frozen 
 feet at the home of Major William Warnick, sheriff of Macon County, 
 who lived across the river from the Lincoln home. Some iconoclastic 
 romanticists would have us believe, however, that, as an object of 
 interest at that time, the statutes made and provided had to take second 
 place to Miss Polly Warnick, the Major's pretty daughter. 
 
 (68) 
 
 BLACKSTONE'S ----- - Commentaries 
 
 Mr. Lincoln once said that his interest in this work was more 
 intense than in anything else that he had ever read. His devotion to its 
 study was so close at one time that his friends feared for his health. 
 
 (69) 
 Greenleaf's --------- Evidence 
 
 (70) 
 
 Chitty's Pleadings 
 
 19 
 
(71) 
 
 Story's - - - - Equity 
 
 < 72 > 
 
 ANGELL's - Limitations in Equity 
 
 (73) 
 Dean's Medical Jurisprudence 
 
 (74) 
 
 GlLMAN'S - - - - - - - - - Conveyancer 
 
 (75) 
 
 Whiting's - - - War Powers 
 
 William Whiting, a talented Boston attorney, was appointed Solici- 
 tor and special counsel of the War Department in November, 1862. 
 His opinions on the "War Powers of Congress," the "War Power of 
 the President," "Military Arrests," and a number of other subjects, 
 were printed, and distributed to officials and prosecutors. Mr. Lincoln 
 consulted the Whiting book so frequently that Carpenter showed it in 
 his picture, "The First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation." 
 
 (76) 
 HlCKEY'S --------- Constitution 
 
 Herndon says that he furnished Mr. Lincoln with a copy of the 
 Constitution when the latter wrote his First Inaugural address. The 
 work by Hickey was in universal use at that time, many copies having 
 been distributed by members of Congress; so it was probably the book 
 furnished. 
 
 (77) 
 FRENCH'S -------- True Republican 
 
 (78) 
 
 ELLIOT'S - - Debates on the Constitution 
 
 This work, in four volumes, is a compilation. The title pages read: 
 
 "The Debates in the several State Conventions on the adoption 
 of the Federal Constitution as recommended by the General Con- 
 vention at Philadelphia, in 1787, together with the Journal of the 
 Federal Convention, Luther Martin's Letter, Yates' Minutes, Con- 
 gressional Opinions, Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of '98-'99, 
 and other illustrations of the Constitution, collected and revised 
 from contemporary publications. By Jonathan Elliot." 
 
 Mr. Lincoln used this compilation largely when preparing the 
 Cooper Institute address, a speech which many believe had much to do 
 with his receiving the nomination for President. 
 
 20 
 
(79) 
 
 CLAY'S - - Speeches 
 
 From the time he read this book — said to contain also a biography 
 of Clay — until long after the passing of the great Kentuckian, Mr. Clay 
 remained Lincoln's beau-ideal as a statesman. In the conclusion of his 
 eulogy on Clay delivered at Springfield in 1852, Lincoln said: 
 
 "Such a man the times have demanded, and such in the prov- 
 idence of God was given to us. But he is gone. Let us strive to 
 deserve, as far as mortals may, the continued care of Divine Prov- 
 idence, trusting that in future national emergencies He will not fail 
 to provide us the instruments of safety and security." 
 
 (80) 
 Webster's - ....... Speeches 
 
 (81) 
 
 Beecher's - - - Alton Riots 
 
 (82) 
 HELPER'S Impending Crisis 
 
 (83) 
 
 SUMNER'S - Republican Party 
 
 (84) 
 FlTZHUGH'S - - Sociology 
 
 (85) 
 LANMAN's ------ Dictionary of Congress 
 
 (86) 
 LOCKE'S --------- Nasby Letters 
 
 These were satirical letters, written by a young newspaper man of 
 Ohio, David R. Locke, and were later published in pamphlet form. 
 The first numbers purported to be written from "Wingert's Corners, 
 Ohio," at the "Parsonage, Church uv the Noo Dispensashun," by the 
 "Paster uv sed Church in charge." The first letter told of the secession 
 of Wingert's Corners. Its conclusion will give a good idea as to Locke's 
 style: 
 
 "We are in earnest. Armed with justice and shot-guns, we bid 
 the tyrants defiance. 
 
 P.S. — The feeling is intense — the children have imbibed it. A 
 lad jest passed, displayin the seceshn flag. It waved from behind. 
 Disdainin conceilment, the lion-hearted boy wore a roundabout. 
 We are firm. 
 
 N.B. — We are still firm. 
 
 N.B. 2nd. — We are firm, unyeeldin, calm and resoloot. 
 
 Petroleum V. Nasby." 
 
 21 
 
Mr. Lincoln sometimes read these letters at cabinet meetings and to 
 visitors. He sent word to Locke that for the genius to write as Locke 
 did he would gladly exchange his office. 
 
 (87) 
 Quinn's --.-__ . Jests 
 
 (88) 
 Miller's - Joke Book 
 
 (89) 
 HALPINE'S -------- Miles O'Reilly 
 
 (90) 
 NEWELL's ------ Orpheus C. Kerr Papers 
 
 (91) 
 
 MARVEL'S Fudge Doings 
 
 (92) 
 
 Browne's - Artemus Ward 
 
 (93) 
 
 BALDWIN'S - - Flush Times in Alabama 
 
 (94) 
 
 Bible 
 
 When he was a child, Lincoln's mother taught him to read the Bible. 
 He once said that reading it was his greatest comfort in the dark days 
 which followed her death. And it seems to have been his chief solace 
 during the most gloomy periods of the Civil War. His familiarity 
 with the Scriptures, and his ability to quote passages from them, giving 
 chapter and verse, were remarked by all who associated with him at 
 Washington. 
 
 (95) 
 Baxter's --------- Saints Rest 
 
 (96) 
 
 BUTLER'S - - Analogy of Religion 
 
 Joseph Butler (1692-1752), an English theologian, published his 
 "Analogy of Religion" in 1736. Its purpose is to prove through 
 analogy that all objections to revealed religion are equally applicable 
 to the whole constitution of nature, that the Christian religion and 
 nature have one and the same Author. It is claimed that Mr. Lincoln 
 found this work particularly interesting to him, especially during his 
 later years. 
 
 23 
 
(97) 
 BAILEY'S ---------- Theology 
 
 (98) 
 
 CHANNING'S ------ Sermons and Writings 
 
 About 1855, Mr. Lincoln became so interested in the writings and 
 sermons of Dr. William E. Channing (1780-1852), the noted Uni- 
 tarian divine, that his friend, Jesse W. Fell, presented him with a 
 complete set of Channing's works. This was probably the six-volume 
 edition in general use at that time. It is believed that Mr. Lincoln found 
 much in both the sermons and writings of Dr. Channing that tallied 
 perfectly with his own views. One title taken from each of the six 
 volumes will indicate the character of Channing's writings: 
 
 Vol. I, Chap. 1, Remarks on the Character and Writings of 
 
 Milton. 
 
 Vol. II, Chap. 2, The Abolitionists. 
 
 Vol. Ill, Chap. 3, Unitarian Christianity. 
 
 Vol. IV, Chap. 4, Self-Denial. 
 
 Vol. V, Chap. 5, Preaching the Gospel to the Poor. 
 
 Vol. VI, Chap. 6, The Duty of the Free States. 
 
 (99) 
 
 VOLNEY'S - - -_-_- Ruins 
 
 Perhaps the purpose and scope of this book cannot be better shown 
 than by quoting from the Editor's Preface of a later edition: 
 
 "It is time to demonstrate that morality is a physical and 
 geometrical science, subjected to the rules and calculations of the 
 other mathematical sciences: and such is the advantage of the system 
 expounded in this book, that the basis of morality being laid in it 
 on the very nature of things, it is both constant and immutable; 
 whereas, in all other theological systems morality being built upon 
 arbitrary opinions, not demonstrable and often absurd, it changes, 
 decays, expires, with them, and leaves man in absolute depravation. 
 It is true that because our system is founded on facts and not on 
 reveries, it will with much greater difficulty be extended and 
 adopted; but it will derive strength from this very struggle, and 
 sooner or later the eternal religion of Nature must overturn the 
 transient religions of the human mind." 
 
 (100) 
 PAINE' S --------- Age of Reason 
 
 (101) 
 
 PALEY'S - Works 
 
 (102) 
 
 Hitchcock's - Religious Truth 
 
 24 
 
(103) 
 
 PARKER'S - - - Sermons and Writings 
 
 Theodore Parker (1810-1860), after graduating at Harvard Col- 
 lege, became a Unitarian minister. He was very liberal in his views, 
 and, at length, was virtually excluded from the Unitarian fellowship. 
 After 1846, he preached for the Twenty-eighth Congregational Society 
 in Boston, the last years of his life speaking in Music Hall to a congre- 
 gation of several thousand. In his beliefs, he was anti-supernatural, 
 transcendental, and theistic. His criticism of the Bible anticipated that 
 of many recent orthodox scholars. Jesse W. Fell believed that Dr. 
 Parker's religious views coincided more nearly with those of Lincoln 
 than did the views of any other writer. Dr. Charles H. Ray, of the 
 Chicago "Tribune," claimed that Mr. Lincoln once said that he stood 
 religiously about where Dr. Parker did. 
 
 (104) 
 Smith's Christian's Defense 
 
 The complete title of this book is: 
 
 "The Christian's Defense, containing a Fair Statement and Im- 
 partial Examination of the Leading Objections urged by Infidels, 
 against the Antiquity, Genuineness, Credibility, and Inspiration of 
 the Holy Scriptures; enriched with Copious Extracts from Learned 
 Authors." 
 
 Dr. James Smith, the author, was at one time pastor of the Pres- 
 byterian church at Springfield. He lent a copy of his book to Mr. 
 Lincoln, and it is generally agreed that Lincoln was much impressed by 
 the arguments that it contained. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln was probably familiar with many books and authors 
 that have never been mentioned by his biographers. He must have 
 studied divers professional works, and read much that was written by 
 contemporary essayists and statesmen, of which there is no record. That 
 he would read his own speeches, and those by Douglas; the campaign 
 text-books, some of which he helped prepare; and most of the com- 
 paign biographies, including his own, will not be questioned. Herndon 
 says that Mr. Lincoln read "all the leading histories of the slavery move- 
 ment, and other works which treated on the subject." Herndon him- 
 self was an omnivorous reader. Rankin believed that at one time Hern- 
 don bought and read more new works in history, science, philosophy, 
 pedagogy, medicine, theology, and general literature, than all the 
 teachers, doctors, and ministers in Springfield put together. Herndon 
 called many of these books to his partner's attention; and Lincoln had 
 the rare faculty of grasping the fundamental thought in a volume while 
 
 25 
 
making what appeared to be only a cursory examination. Rankin be- 
 lieved, too, that Mrs. Lincoln's appreciation of the best in literature, 
 and the books they read together in the home, were forceful stimulants 
 to Mr. Lincoln's intellectual life. (105) 
 
 Various authors have mentioned that he was more or less acquainted 
 with the writings of Dickens, Lowell, Scott, Mackay, Hawthorne, 
 Bulwer, Leslie, Bayly, Herrick, Abbott, Bryant, Goldsmith, Whittier, 
 Campbell, Moore, Rogers, Butler and Halleck (poets) , Jackson, Cal- 
 houn, Giddings, Phillips, Sumner, Seward, Everett, Prentice, and 
 others. Dodge believes, however, that the references to some of the 
 poets "need not be taken too literally." (106) 
 
 An ideal list, of course, would be one in which no important 
 book or author was omitted, and no unimportant one was included. 
 But the study of a list that is only approximate, is both illuminating 
 and comforting: illuminating, because we can gain from it a knowl- 
 edge of Lincoln's tastes, and the sources of his culture; comforting, 
 because his final eminence does not seem so inexplicable when we can see 
 even a part of the steps that he took while ascending the height. 
 
 20 
 
AUTHORITIES 
 
 ARNOLD: The Life of Abraham Lincoln. By Isaac N. Arnold. Chi- 
 cago, 1887. 
 
 BARTON (a) : The Life of Abraham Lincoln. 2 Vol. By William E. 
 Barton. Indianapolis, 1925. 
 
 BARTON (b) : The Soul of Abraham Lincoln. By William E. Barton. 
 New York, 1920. 
 
 BARTON (c) : Abraham Lincoln and His Books. By William E. Bar- 
 ton. Chicago, 1920. 
 
 BARTON (d) : The Women Lincoln Loved. By William E. Barton. 
 Indianapolis, 1927. 
 
 BEVERIDGE: Abraham Lincoln. 2 Vol. By Albert J. Beveridge. Bos- 
 ton, 1928. 
 
 BROCKETT: The Life and Times of Abraham Lincoln. By L. P. 
 Brockett. Philadelphia, 1865. 
 
 CARPENTER: Six Months in the White House. By F. B. Carpenter. 
 New York, 1866. 
 
 CHAPMAN: Latest Light on Abraham Lincoln. By Ervin Chapman. 
 New York, 1917. 
 
 DODGE : Abraham Lincoln: The Evolution of His Literary Style. 
 By Daniel K. Dodge. Champaign, Illinois, 1900. 
 
 HERNDON: Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life. By 
 William H. Herndon and Jesse W. Weik. Chicago, 1889. 
 
 HILL: Lincoln the Lawyer. By Frederick T. Hill. New York, 1906. 
 
 HOLLAND: The Life of Abraham Lincoln. By J. G. Holland. Spring- 
 field, Mass., 1866. 
 
 JOHNSON: Lincoln the Christian. By William J. Johnson. New York, 
 1913. 
 
 LAMON (a) : The Life of Abraham Lincoln. By Ward H. Lamon. 
 Boston, 1872. 
 
 LAMON (b) : Recollections of Abraham Lincoln. By Ward H. Lamon. 
 Edited by Dorothy Lamon Teillard. Washington, 1911. 
 
 MORROW: Forever Free. By Honore Willsie Morrow. New York, 
 1927. 
 
 27 
 
NlCOLAY fc> HAY: Abraham Lincoln: Complete Works. By John G. 
 Nicolay and John Hay. 2 Vol. New York, 1920. 
 
 RANKIN (a): Intimate Character Sketches of Abraham Lincoln. By 
 Henry B. Rankin. Philadelphia, 1924. 
 
 RANKIN (b) : Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln. By Henry 
 B. Rankin. New York. 1916. 
 
 ROBINSON: Abraham Lincoln As a Man of Letters. By Luther E. Rob- 
 inson. New York, 1918. 
 
 ROTHSCHILD: Honest Abe. By Alonzo Rothschild. Boston, 1917. 
 
 SPARKS: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates. Edited by Edwin E. Sparks. 
 Springfield, 111., 1908. 
 
 TARBELL (a) : The Early Life of Abraham Lincoln. By Ida M. Tar- 
 bell. New York, 1896. 
 
 TARBELL (b) : The Life of Abraham Lincoln. (1900) 2 Vol. in 1. 
 By Ida M. Tarbell. New York, 1923. 
 
 TARBELL (c) : In the Footsteps of the Lincolns. By Ida M. Tarbell. 
 New York, 1924. 
 
 WEIK: The Real Lincoln: A Portrait. By Jiesse W. Weik. Boston, 
 1922. 
 
 WHITNEY (a) : Life on the Circuit with Lincoln. By Henry C. Whit- 
 ney. Boston, 1892. 
 
 WHITNEY (b) : Lincoln the Citizen. By Henry C. Whitney. New 
 York, 1907. 
 
 28 
 
(1) 
 
 (2) 
 
 (3) 
 
 (4) 
 
 (5) 
 
 (6) 
 
 (7) 
 
 (8) 
 
 (9) 
 
 (10) 
 
 (11) 
 
 (12) 
 
 (13) 
 
 (14) 
 
 (15) 
 
 (16) 
 
 (17) 
 
 (18) 
 
 (19) 
 
 (20) 
 
 (21) 
 
 (22) 
 
 (23) 
 
 (24) 
 
 (25) 
 
 (26) 
 
 (27) 
 
 (28) 
 
 (29) 
 
 (30) 
 
 (31) 
 
 (32) 
 
 (33) 
 
 (34) 
 
 (35) 
 
 REFERENCES 
 
 Herndon, 37; Barton (a), i, 120. 
 
 Same. 
 
 Weik, 22; Dodge, 6. 
 
 Beveridge. i, 75; Lamon (a), 37. 
 
 Herndon, 47-48; Beveridge, i, 75-76. 
 
 Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 Tarbell (c), 177-179; Barton (a), i, 187. 
 
 Statement, Henry B. Rankin to George P. Hambrecht- 
 
 Herndon, 37; Weik, 22. 
 
 Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 Nicolay 8 Hay, i, 641 ; Robinson, 113. 
 
 Same. 
 
 Arnold, 24; Nicolay S Hay, i, 640. 
 
 Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 Beveridge, i, 73. 
 
 Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 Johnson, 149; Chapman, ii, 308. 
 
 Barton (b), 1 83-1 87 ; Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 Nicolay 8 Hay, i, 688; Barton (c), 7. 
 
 Rothschild, 10, 326; Holland, 32. 
 
 Dodge, 6; Rothschild, 10. 
 
 Weik, 230; Robinson, 38. 
 
 Barton (c) ,14; Dodge, 6. 
 
 Weik, 230; Robinson, 38. 
 
 Tarbell (a), 71 ; Barton (c), 14. 
 
 Herndon, 437-438; Dodge, 7. 
 
 Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 Beveridge, i, 73. 
 
 Herndon, 113; Beveridge, i, 135. 
 
 Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 Herndon, 113; Beveridge, i, 135. 
 
 Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 Nicolay ft Hay, i, 299; Sparks, 115. 
 
 Rothschild, 10. 
 
 Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 29 
 
(36) Barton (b) , 166-171; Herndon, 437. 
 
 (37) Palmer, 111. Sta. His. Soc. Journal, July, 1928. 
 
 (38) Morrow, 68. 
 
 (39) Whitney (a), 126. 
 
 (40) Brockett, 719; Dodge, 17. 
 
 (41) Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (42) Same. 
 
 (43) Same. 
 
 (44) Rothschild, 10; Beveridge, i, 70. 
 
 (45) Herndon. 39: Dodge, 20. 
 
 (46) Tarbell (b), i, 29; Barton (a) , i, 121. 
 
 (47) Same. 
 
 (48) Rankin (b), 130; Beveridge, ii, 137-138. 
 
 (49) Rothschild, 10. 
 
 (50) Herndon. 113: Dodge, 8. 
 
 (51) Talcott Williams, "Review of Reviews," Feb., 1920. 
 
 (52) John Hay, "Century," Nov., 1890; Robinson, 302-305. 
 
 (53) Beveridge, i, 299; Dodge, 12. 
 
 (54) Lamon (a), 122; Whitney (a), 144. 
 
 (55) Dodge, 14: Robinson, 206. 
 
 (56) Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (57) Barton (c), 16-17; Dodge, 13. 
 
 (58) John Hay, "Century," Nov., 1890; Dodge, 15. 
 
 (59) James G. Wilson, "Putnam's," Feb., 1909; Herndon, 140. 
 
 (60) Barton (c), 16; Dodge, 15. 
 
 (61) Barton (a), i, 306. 
 
 (62) Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (63) Same. 
 
 (64) Carpenter, 115; Dodge, 16. 
 
 (65) Rankin (a). 54-57; Robinson, 36. 
 
 (66) Herndon. 45; Hill, 10. 
 
 (67) Barton (d), 165: Beveridge, i, 141. 
 
 (68) Herndon, 110; Hill, 50. 
 
 (69) Lincoln copy preserved; Herndon, 324. 
 
 (70) Same. 
 
 (71) Same. 
 
 (72) Hill, 15; Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (73) Same. 
 
 30 
 
(74) Same. 
 
 ( 75) Carpenter, 353. 
 
 (76) Herndon, 478. 
 
 (77) Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (78) Whitney (b), i, 279; Herndon, 455. 
 
 (79) Beveridge, i, 98; Barton (c), 14. 
 
 (80) Herndon, 478; Dodge, 48. 
 
 (81) Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (82) Nicolay 8 Hay, i, 609; Robinson, 85. 
 
 (83) Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (84) Herndon, 363. 
 
 (85) Hill, 15; Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (86) Whitney (a), 126; Barton (c), 18. 
 
 (87) Beveridge, i, 83-84. 
 
 (88) Whitney (a), 126; Barton (c), 18. 
 
 (89) Brooks, "Harper's," July, 1865; Brockett, 719. 
 
 (90) Barton, (a), ii, 403; Dodge, 16. 
 
 (91) Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (92) Whitney (a), 126; Barton (c), 18. 
 
 (93) Whitney (a), 177; Dodge, 16. 
 
 (94) Arnold, 45; Rankin (b) , 320. 
 
 (95) Barton (b), 289. 
 
 (96) Brockett, 719; Dodge, 17. 
 
 (97) Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (98) Barton (b), 175-188; Herndon, 442-445. 
 
 (99) Herndon, 439; Beveridge, i, 139. 
 
 (100) Same. 
 
 (101) Barton (c), 18; Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (102) Hill, 15; Lincoln copy preserved. 
 
 (103) Barton (b), 175-177; Herndon, 396. 
 
 (104) Barton (b), 156-165; Johnson, 43-53. 
 
 (105) Herndon, 363; Rankin (b), 120-122. 
 
 (106) Dodge, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20; Robinson, 36, 204, 208; Herndon, 
 
 363, 478, 596: Rankin, (b), 130; Barton (b) , 16; Wilson, 
 "Putman's", Mch., 1909. 
 
 An acknowledgment: In the compilation of this list, I have re- 
 ceived much assistance from my friend, Mr. Harry E. Barker, of Los 
 Angeles, California. Both as a collector of Lincolniana, and as a dealer 
 in books that Lincoln read, Mr. Barker has acquired much valuable 
 information. — M.L.H. 
 
 31 
 
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