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117. Robert T. Lincoln to William H. Herndon.

Chicago Jan 8/66

My dear Mr Herndon

Both of your letters have been received. I should have answered the first one immediately, but I have been very much pressed.

I was not aware that my mother had written you & so of course I did not compose the letter you have received. I had seen a synopsis of your lecture & I assure you I saw nothing in it at which to take umbrage. In the first place, I would not judge a discourse by an abstract of it — but more than all, even when I differ with anyone in his views of my father's character &c. unless it were something flagrantly wrong, I would not discuss the subject.

While it is true that the details of the private life of a public man have always a great interest in the minds of some — it is after all his works which make him live — & the rest is but secondary.

I am extremely sorry to perceive that you seem to think that I bear ill-will towards you, from the correspondence which arose out of a misunderstanding — beg you to believe that nothing is further from the truth — My feelings towards are of the kindest & I wish I had some means of proving them —

Sincerely Yours
Robert T. Lincoln

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2420 — 21