Curiouser and Curiouser
Curiouser and Curiouser
It is in some ways quite extraordinary that after so many years of living here, Highclere is still full of surprises. Often it is just a question of noticing something hiding in plain sight. I did however shout out in amazement at my latest discovery. Looking through a long neglected high shelf in the library, I came across a leather bound book that was slightly larger than standard. On the outside it said Abraham Lincoln in rather nicely embossed letters.
I thought it might have been a few biographical notes or perhaps a photographic print. For many of us, now as in the past, Lincoln must rank as one of the greatest presidents in American history. He was a hero for so many reasons: for his governance in wartime, for forging the Union, for abolishing slavery and for his intellectual leadership.
This particular leather folder bore all the hallmarks of the 4th Earl of Carnarvon. The page was carefully bound and it was clearly treasured and therefore must have been at Highclere since before 1890. The 4th Earl was deeply involved in the international politics of the day, holding an assortment of government posts during his career and many ambassadors and foreign signatories attended his sought after house parties at Highclere.
One such invitee was Charles Francis Adams. Born into a prestigious American family, he was Lincoln’s and later President Johnson’s Ambassador in London from 1861-1868. Adam’s role was key: during the American Civil War, the union needed to ensure that the British remained neutral and to forestall any foreign military aid being offered to the Confederacy.
The leather folder contained a single page, not printed but hand written, setting out the beginnings of Lincoln’s life and career. It is a well known story of resilience and tenacity against considerable odds. Born into poverty, Lincoln was orphaned at nine when his mother died leaving his eleven year old sister Sarah in charge of the small family.
He was later devastated when she died in childbirth in 1828. An avid reader, any other education was sketchy. Instead Lincoln worked at any manual labour he could find to help his family. He nearly married several times but did in the end marry Mary Todd, the daughter of a wealthy lawyer. Of their four sons, only one lived to have a family of his own.
Admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1836, Lincoln later sought to go into politics but initially struggled to find his way. His legal profession, however, flourished as did his reputation which gave rise to the nickname "Honest Abe”. He was elected for the House of Representatives which he turned down hoping for the Senate. Lincoln's oratorial skills and ability to communicate, as well as his code of morality on the issues of the day, gave him a national political presence. Campaigning for President with posters and articles and rallying young voters, he became the 16th President on November 6, 1860.
Soon after, on April 12, 1861, Confederate forces fired on Union troops at Fort Sumpter and so began the civil war. To "preserve the Union" Lincoln took executive control and formed the military strategy at a practical level as well as political, consulting with governors and selecting generals based on their success.
To this day, Lincoln’s speeches and ideals are quoted around the world and known to schoolchildren far and wide. It was "government of the people, by the people, for the people”. His legacy lives on at the Capitol building, in the city he fought to defend, from its architecture to his memorials and his legacy to the United States of America.
So what is this page of writing? I do not know - it is the handwriting of President Lincoln, it is I suspect 140/150 years old. Were various copies of this page duplicated on a roller copier following President Lincoln's death and perhaps it was a gift from Adams when he stayed here in December 1866? Words, handwriting and books are treasures ...
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50 Comments
Thank you for your kind words Patricia. Have a lovely week.
What a treasure! Truly, sometimes the best things are easily overlooked and we just need to take the time to discover what is right in front of us. Thank you for sharing.
This is amazing! I am a historian and royal corespondent from London. I have read a whole lot of books and essays on American history, but yours is the most fascinating one I have read so far. You are a national treasure.
Lovely picture of curiouser and curiouser did you and lord Carnarvon have a nice weekend and lovely Downton abbey and lovely highcelere castle
Oh that the citizens of USA could have had a choice for a new president like Abraham Lincoln.....
Thanks for sharing. Loved reading this.
Thank you for this piece of history - I now want to find out more about Lincoln.
I so look forward to your writing each week because I learn something!
Thank you for sharing that with us Lady Carnarvon. That discovery is a gift to our present times, as we live in a whirlwind of tumultuous words and actions. Too many of us think there is no hope for our future but that was the prevalent attitude at the time of the US Civil War. Lincoln is one of our secular saints, his example sustains us whenever we are fraught with winds of despair. His appeal to our 'better angels' says: "Yes, we can survive this!" I hope you bring in historians to examine this rare text, and that the public can learn more about Mr. Adams, and his work. And Blessed Christmas to you and your family! Your graciousness and generosity have been a gift to this generation. May that spirit bring light into our future.
Gosh, thank you Maud.
Have forwarded to an expert on Lincoln here in New York State. What an incredible find!
How really kind, we'd love to hear more about it. We know it was the 4th Earl. Thank you
What an amazing find! I am an American and a retired US history teacher.
Teaching my students about Abraham Lincoln was a true joy. I hope you are able to find out more about this piece of Lincoln’s writing.
I look forward to reading about it in one of your future posts.
It is a common misconception that Abraham Lincoln was impoverished during his childhood. The Lincoln family was actually upper middle class while living in the state of Kentucky. It’s after they left Kentucky when Lincoln was close to a teenager that the family fell on rough economic hardship.
What a fascinating blog today Lady Carnarvon!
Amazing what tragic circumstances Abraham Lincoln had to overcome in his early life!
And yes I do love old books and good old fashioned handwriting!
One struggles to find an example of one’s own handwriting now as everything is typed on a phone or computer!
I do still just love the act of writing on a page with a nice fine pen!
Thankyou Lady Carnarvon
Best wishes
FLEURINA DECORTES de GILBERT
Orange City East
Central Western NSW
Australia
What a treasure to discover in your incredible home! Please try to find out more about this book. Lincoln is the reason we are still a union. Happy Christmas to you and yours!
What a wonderful find. Please keep us informed of anything you discover about this piece of writing, it is so interesting and fascinating, would love to know more
Lady Carnarvon,
I also have four sons and always found it sad that three out of four died tragically.
No wonder, along with the Civil War, that Lincoln's portraits showed his grief.
Thank you for giving us a different perspective.
What other treasures do you have yet to find?!
It is unbearable ... Good question -
Another very interesting read thank you so much ,
So very interesting! I'm sure there many more surprises hidden elsewhere on your shelves. It's fascinating how time reveals such interesting coincidences. I had the privilege of visiting Highclere a few years ago and I wish I had been aware of this discovery then. It turns out that Lincoln's great-great grandfather, Mordecai, was my 7th great grandfather, which makes us cousins. So, I now share a connection to Highclere. How cool is that! I guess I'll just have to make another visit to the castle!
How interesting only one page. Wonder if Adams was hoping to start a collection of Lincoln’s letters but never got around to it or it the only letter he received. Many questions unanswered!
What a wonderful Historic Treasure you finally found! Surprising an Abraham Lincoln Titled leather bound book is there from all those years ago. He has been and still is a tributed American (especially on Presidents Day and his birth & death days). As a fan of his I so enjoyed touring his birth place (which is now a National State Park area) and his childhood area and a museum of him all in Kentucky as they are all so interesting to tour & see all items from his lifetime on display. I am wondering if that Museum would love to also know about what you have found there regarding him?
Also has Abraham Lincoln Items is his & Marys sons home up in Vermont which is also wonderful to tour. As is his former Illinois residency & law area.
So much historic items you have there. Thank you again for another very informative Monday Blog.
Happy Christmas Season to you and Lord Carnarvon and your families & staff too.
This is simply amazing! I would encourage you to contact an expert to confirm whether the handwriting is indeed Lincoln’s.
Even if it does not contain a page of Lincoln’s writing, the mere existence of that book is extraordinary!
I’m reminded of the scene in “Hamilton” when King George sniffs at the thought of John Adams succeeding Washington. I don’t believe he (King George) was still around to welcome Charles Adams.
Lady Carnarvon,
What an amazing story. Lincoln is such a huge force in the World. For so many reasons. I have to say there were many things I did not know about him. I just learned today.
What a wonderful find. Finding such an interesting looking unread book in your library must have been such a surprise. Discovering its content and author must have been both exciting and intriguing. What an amazing piece of American political history to have uncovered at Highclere. Thank you for sharing it.
Oh my, what a treasure indeed! Thank you for sharing!!
Happy Christmas, Carla
Good day, or rather evening in your part of the world. Here in Springfield, IL, (Lincoln's home before he was President) there is the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, his tomb and only about 25 minutes northwest of Springfield is Lincoln's New Salem (Petersburg, IL) which is where Lincoln spent a lot of time prior to becoming President. I'm not for sure if it is okay to post links in the comments so I will leave the research of Lincoln to each of the readers, it is easily available. The library is always interested in "new" Lincoln discoveries and this letter may be of interest. I grew up in the Springfield, IL area and still reside here, Springfield is a pretty small community and I have previously worked for the state of IL and with individuals that are on the board for the library and museum in the event you would like to connect with someone about the letter.
Yes please
How utterly amazing to have found such a wonderful treasure. I actually live in Central Illinois, USA about an hour from Springfield IL where his library, home and tomb are located.
What a wonderful surprise to find such history in your library. Reading your post gave me the chills (in a good way) and it's not because of our chilly Oregon weather.
Very interesting find! I’ll bet there are more treasure hiding in plain sight in your home! I had the lucky experience to tour a former home of Lincoln years ago when I went to Kentucky. It was a surreal experience to think that I was walking on a floor that he probably laid upon while reading in the evenings. He was a great man.
Lady Carnarvon,
You have indeed found another interesting piece of history to share with your readers. I know it must be exciting and leave you grinning to enjoy such find! Please continue to search and share. Have a merry and happy Christmas Season this year!
Martha G
It made be smile and wonder!
It is surreal to think he might have been holding his pen choosing the words - I think writing not typing is stll important
What an extraordinary man he was
It is intriguing - as an amateur sleuth it is President Lincoln's handwriting
I would love to tour as you have ..
Many...
That is amazing ..
Did I miss it? What does the letter or document actually say?
Love your posts and videos so much- thank you for sharing.
Carolyn
So very interesting! Thanks for sharing. A fascinating home.
This is fascinating.
As an English and history teacher (retired), I’m intrigued.
Lincoln’s grandfather, also named Abraham, was murdered right down the road from my house here in Kentucky. That tragedy set in motion many of the events that led to the family’s journeys and to young Abraham’s ultimate journey. You truly have a treasure there. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Thank you for another view of our beloved President. I have been a fan for a long time, so much so, that I was involved in Civil War rein-acting for a time. I live in Iowa, which is right next to Illinois and have done a number of Arabian horse shows in Springfield, which was Lincoln’s home before he became President and where he and all of his family, except for Robert, are buried. They are in a Grand Mausoleum, not too far from the Illinois State Fair grounds, where the horse shows are held. As such, I always take time to visit and try my best to time it so I am alone in the burial chamber area. You can still sense the presence in the silence. Also spectacular are the Lincoln Library and Museum where Lincoln’s life and the Civil War are portrayed and one cannot leave without a sense of awe at his life and times. Also within walking distance of the Museum is the house where he and Mary lived, where their young son Edward died. They give tours, but allow you to actually use the hand rail on the steps between floors that is the same one the family used when they lived there. If you ever have time on one of your US trips, these places are not hard to get to and are definitely worth the visit. Thank you for sharing your great find.
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I heard back from my Abraham Lincoln expert. He was able to enlarge your blogpost and then compare to the original in the Lincoln papers at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
I cannot share the photo here, but you can email me to share it with you.
The Library of Congress version has a ruled line at the left, creases in the paper where it was folded for mailing, and there are a few lines on the bottom lacking in the Highclere copy. Rumors have abounded that Lincoln did more than one copy, but the manuscript people at Library of Congress suspect that the Highclere copy is a very good facsimile—maybe from the turn of the century.
Interestingly, today is the 166th anniversary of the writing of this autobiographical sketch (Dec 20, 1859). Was it karma that connected my knowledgeable friend and me on the eve of this milestone?
My friend wondered if you knew that a descendent of the Willard family (of the Willard Hotel—where Lincoln stayed in the days leading up to his inauguration) married into the Carnarvon family. Maybe somewhere in that legacy lies the explanation of why this copy found its way into the Highclere library in such a beautiful bound book?
All Best and Happy Christmas!
Thank you so much - I am sure this copy arrived here during the time of the 4th Earl of Carnarvon - he died in 1890 and I would place this book 1885 or earlier, before Lord Carnarvon was not in the best of health.
I think the connection is Charles Francis Adams or other political connections. The 4th Earl also sailed to America and attended some dinners on the east coast given he was involved in political government roles and the creation of the Dominion of Canada in 1866/7. The 4th Earl was a deeply courteous, honourable man and would have set huge value of any memento relating to President Lincoln. This book has all his hallmarks.
The 4th Earl's son Mervyn Herbert married Mary Willard in 1921 but Mervyn was not living at Highclere but at Tetton in Somerset as his father had died as above in 1890. 1921/1923 years were dominated by Tutankhamun..
Fascinating!
I will send your response along to Harold Holzer, the Lincoln expert.
All best this new year!
Will be looking forward to you gardening posts especially!
; )
Barbara
Quel trésor historique merci infiniment de vos partages un enchantement
You are so kind!
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
Thank you for this past Monday's informative and interesting blog, and for sharing the Lincoln find in the Castle's Library.
Perpetua Crawford
How fascinating! A brilliant piece, fleshing out a character whom I, and I suspect many others , admire but know only the bare bones of his story, leaving me with curiosity and a keen desire to know more. You are a godsend to ageing minds like mine who love history but sometimes forget that one is never too old to learn. Thank you so much. I do love Monday mornings.