r:
"The Postmaster General ought to be dismissed by the President from the
Cabinet." Stanton handed his letter to the President, from whom the next
day the General received this note: "Whether the remarks were made I
do not know, nor do I suppose such knowledge is necessary to a correct
response. If they were made, I do not approve them; and yet, under the
circumstances, I would not dismiss a member of the Cabinet therefor. I
do not consider what may have been hastily said in a moment of vexation
at so severe a loss is sufficient ground for so grave a step. Besides
this, truth is generally the best vindication against slander. I propose
continuing to be myself the judge as to when a member of the Cabinet
shall be dismissed." Lincoln spoke of the affair at his next conference
with his Ministers. "I must, myself, be the judge," said he, "how long
to retain in and when to remove any of you from his position. It would
greatly pain me to discover any of you endeavoring to procure another's
removal, or in any way to prejudice him before the public. Such an
endeavor would be a wrong to me, and much worse, a wrong to the country.
My wish is that on this subject no remark be made nor question asked by
any of you, here or elsewhere, now or hereafter."(10)

Not yet had anything resulted either from the Canadian mission of
Greeley, or from the Richmond adventure of Gilmore and Jaquess. There
was a singular ominous pause in events. Lincoln could not be blind to
the storm signals that had attended the close of Congress. What were the
Vindictives about? As yet they had made no Sign. But it was incredible
that they could pass over his defiance without a return blow. When would
it come? What would it be?

He spent his nights at the Soldiers' Home. As a rule, his family were
with him. Sometimes, however, Mrs. Lincoln and his sons would be absent
and his only companion was one of the ardent young secretaries. Then
he would indulge in reading Shakespeare aloud, it might be with such
forgetfulness of time that only the nodding of the tired young head
recalled him to himself and brought the reading to an end. A visitor has
left this charming picture of Lincoln at the Soldiers' Home in the sad
sweetness of a summer night:

"The Soldiers' Home is a few miles out of Washington on the Maryland
side. It is situated on a beautiful wooded hill, which you ascend by a
winding path, shaded on both sides by wide-spread branches, forming a
green arca