published
until two weeks later, and just before the address itself was delivered.
The occasion for the delay would appear to have been that the Common
Council of the City of Chicago had started independently a movement for
a Memorial Service, and that the two committees after some conference
had agreed to combine in one service to be held in the City Hall. The
following correspondence was published on Wednesday evening, July 24:

EULOGY UPON THE LATE PRESIDENT

The following is a copy of the correspondence between the Hon. A.
Lincoln and the Committee of Arrangements, for paying a suitable
tribute of respect to the late President of the United States:

A. LINCOLN, Esq.

Sir:--We, the undersigned Committee, appointed at a meeting of our
fellow citizens, to act in conjunction with the Committee appointed
by the Common Council of this city, to select a suitable person to
deliver an address to our citizens at the City Hall upon the life
of Z. Taylor, deceased, late President of the United States of
America.

We have, with great unanimity of feeling and sentiment of both
Committees, selected yourself for the purpose named--and desire
that you will be kind enough to accept thereof and to name the time
when you will perform that duty, of addressing your fellow-citizens
of Chicago, at the place named.

With sentiments of high esteem
Your fellow-citizens

L. C. KERCHEVAL
B. S. MORRIS
G. W. DOLE
J. H. KINZIE
W. L. NEWBERRY

CHICAGO, ILL., _July 24, 1850_

GENTLEMEN:--

Yours of the 22nd inviting me to deliver an address to the
citizens of this city upon the life of Z. Taylor, deceased, late
President of the United States, was duly received. The want of time
for preparation will make the task, for me, a very difficult one to
perform, in any degree satisfactory to others or to myself. Still I
do not feel at liberty to decline the invitation; and therefore I
will fix to-morrow as the time. The hour may be any you think
proper, after 12 o'clock M.

Your Ob't. Serv't
A. LINCOLN

Messrs. L. C. KERCHEVAL
B. S. MORRIS
GEO. W.