Curiouser and Curiouser

Outside of book

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.

4thEarl in his study

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.

4th Earl diary entry

This particular leather folder bore all the hallmarks of the 4^th Earl of Carnarvon. The page was carefully bound and it was clearly treasured and therefore must have been at Highclere since before 1890. The 4^th 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.

Charles Adams

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 …