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208. Allan Pinkerton to William H. Herndon.

Phila., Aug 5th 1866.

Dear Sir:

Your favor of the 1st Inst. is duly received. Some days since I received a letter from Hon. Leonard Swett in reference to the Records containing an account of Mr. Lincoln's passage to Washington through Baltimore on his way to be inaugurated in the Spring of '61; to which I replied granting yourself and Mr. Swett their use with the pledge from you both that you would consider as strictly confidential all matter contained therein relating to the affairs of the Phila. Wil, & Balt. R.R., also that the name of the Broker who occupied rooms adjoining mine in Baltimore should be omitted as although he was undoubtedly a rebel at heart, yet he is a man of not much means; he has lost considerable during the war, and the publication of his name might tend to his serious injury in business. I deprecate this in any publications coming from my records. Aso, that you would consider as confidential any remarks which are found therein concerning Mark H. Lamon Esq. I shall be very glad to correspond with you or assist you in anyway in which I can in compiling of your valuable history. If your letters are addressed to me at Chicago they will be sure to be forwarded to me wherever I may be, which will probably be the best for you to do, as I am travelling a great deal.

Yours Truly
Allan Pinkerton
— Bartlett — x

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2589

nts

Notes.

1. William H. Herndon apparently forgot about his obligation to keep this material confidential, for he sold copies of it to none other than Ward Hill Lamon, the man referred to here by Pinkerton.

2. Apparently Bartlett was the secretary who wrote out and signed this letter.