The bridges on the railroad were to be set on fire, the tracks torn up so that no troops could reach Baltimore from the North. Little did the men mistrust that Timothy Webster, from Richmond, was in constant communication with the gentleman from Georgia, in Baltimore; that Mr. Howard was also informing the gentleman from Georgia of all that was going on, and that he was giving full information of the conspiracy to Norman B. Judd, at Buffalo.

Mr. Lincoln had planned to go from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, and from that city to Baltimore. There would be a great crowd at the Northern Central station, where he would enter a narrow passage to reach a carriage. It would be an easy matter to get up a row in such a crowd. When the police left the passage to quell the disturbance, the fatal bullet would be fired, or the knife plunged into his breast. A steamboat would take the assassin to South Carolina-secure from capture.

Senator Grimes, of Iowa, and Elihu B. Washburne, member of the House of Representatives from Galena, Ill., were in consultation with General Scott, commanding the army. He was receiving letters from honest and true-hearted men in the South, informing him of a deeplaid plot to murder Mr. Lincoln. Senator Grimes and Mr. Washburne were made a "Committee of Public Safety" by the loyal Senators and members of Congress. They knew that Chief of Police Kennedy, in New York, was loyal and true, and that he had trustworthy men in his employ, and so put themselves in communication with him.

Men who wore slouched hats and seedy coats, who smoked cheap cigars and drank whiskey, were sent to Richmond, Alexandria, and Baltimore. They also learned the details of the plot to murder Lincoln. (")

1861.

Mr. Lincoln is at Trenton, N. J. Things have arrived at a serious pass. Mr. Seward and Mr. Washburne, in Washington, have unmistakable evidence, apart from what has come to Mr. Judd, that Feb. 20, Mr. Lincoln is to be assassinated in Baltimore. They cannot with safety telegraph any information. A messenger must be sent, and Mr. Frederick W. Seward, son of the Senator, with letters from his father and from General Scott, makes his way to Philadelphia. The train from Trenton is just arriving with Mr. Lincoln. A young man slips a piece of paper into the hand of Mr. Judd, who reads only this:

"Call for J. H. Hutchinson at the St. Louis Hotel."

It is not Mr. Hutchinson whom Mr. Judd finds, but Mr. Pinkerton, the "gentleman from Georgia." He lays before Mr. Judd all the details of the plan. Mr. Seward confirms them; also Mr. Sanford, sent by General Scott. Mr. Felton, who has had several gangs of men whitewashing the bridges across the rivers between Philadelphia and Baltimore, but who were instructed to keep their eyes on the structures day and night for fear they might be set on fire, adds information confirming the testimony gathered by the detectives.

What shall be done? The time has come when Mr. Lincoln must

know what is going on. His secretary, Mr. Nicolay, calls him from the parlor of the Continental Hotel. Mr. Judd and Mr. Sanford propose that he shall go at once to Washington. That he will not consent to do. He has promised to raise a flag over the hall in which the Declaration of Independence was signed, and will keep his word. He has promised to go to Harrisburg, and will go; but it is arranged that instead of remaining at Harrisburg over night, and going to Baltimore on the Northern Central road, he shall return to Philadelphia, and go by the regular night train through Baltimore to Washington.

It is the anniversary of George Washington's birth. For the first. time in his life Mr. Lincoln enters the hall where the Declara

1861.

Feb. 22, tion of the Independence of the United States was signed. The street and square, the houses, windows, and roofs are occupied by a vast crowd of people. These words fall from the lips of Mr. Lincoln :

"I am filled with deep emotion at finding myself standing in this place, where were collected together the wisdom, the patriotism, the devotion to principle from which sprang the institutions under which we live. You have kindly suggested to me that in my hands is the task of restoring peace to our distracted country. I can say in return that all the political sentiments I entertain have been drawn, so far as I have been able to draw them, from the sentiments which originated in, and were given to the world from, this hall. . . . It was not the mere matter of separation of the colonies from the motherland, but that sentiment in the Declaration of Independence which gave liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but hope to all the world for all future time."

The flag rises to the top-mast, and the vast multitude rends the air with cheers as they behold the bright new banner floating in the breeze.

From Philadelphia, Mr. Lincoln proceeds to Harrisburg, and meets the Legislature and Governor Curtin. The ceremonies of the day are ended. Judge Davis, Colonel E. V. Sumner, Major John Pope, Major David Hunter, and Mr. Lamon, who are travelling with Mr. Lincoln,

have received hints that the programme for the journey to Washington has been changed. Mr. Lincoln cannot slip away without taking them into his confidence. He has not been quite sure that it will be manly to go through Baltimore in the night. No hospitalities have been extended to him by the Governor of Maryland or the authorities of Baltimore, but will people not look upon him as a coward? He lays the matter before his friends.

"Well, Mr. Lincoln, what is your judgment?" Mr. Davis asks.

"I have thought this matter over considerably since I went over the ground with Mr. Pinkerton. The appearance of Mr. Frederick Seward

with information from another source confirms my belief in Mr. Pinkerton's statements. Therefore, unless there are some other reasons than the fear of ridicule, I am disposed to carry out Mr. Judd's plan." "That settles it," said Mr. Davis.

"So be it," says Colonel Sumner, brave and true soldier. "It is against my judgment, but I have undertaken to go to Washington with Mr. Lincoln, and I shall do it." He does not comprehend the malignity of the desperadoes who are looking forward to the coming noon as the hour when they will rid the world of the man whom they hate.

The hands of the clock in the hotel office steal on to 5.45. The gentlemen at dinner are munching the nuts and raisins, and sipping their coffee. Mr. Nicolay enters, and whispers to Mr. Lincoln, who leaves the room, followed by the Governor, Mr. Judd, and others. He retires to his chamber, changes his clothing, and descends the stairs.

"He is going to the Governor's," the whisper that runs through the crowd as they see Governor Curtin and Mr. Lincoln arm in arm.

A carriage is waiting at the door. Mr. Lincoln, Governor Curtin, and Lamon enter. Colonel Sumner is just stepping in when Mr. Judd touches his shoulder. He turns to see what is wanted; the driver starts his horses, and the vehicle whirls down the street--not to the Governor's house, but to the railroad station, where an engineer and fireman are waiting in the cab of an engine. It is a light train: a baggage car and one passenger car-a special to take the superintendent of the railroad and a few friends to Philadelphia. The track has been cleared, and the engineer can make quick time.

It is a midwinter night, and the twilight is fading from the sky, but the darkness does not prevent a lineman of the telegraph from climbing a pole just outside of Harrisburg, and attaching a fine copper wire to the line, and carrying it to the ground. Possibly the man might wonder what sort of an experiment Mr. Westervelt, who had come up from Philadelphia, was carrying on; but when it was done, the operatives in Harrisburg and Baltimore might finger their telegraph keys by the hour, but would not be able to send a message between the two cities.

In Philadelphia, Mrs. Warne, employed by Mr. Pinkerton, has engaged two berths in the sleeping-car ostensibly for herself and invalid brother, and the porter has hung a curtain so they can be separated from the other passengers on their trip to Washington.

"You will hold your train till I give you a package which Mr. Felton wishes you to take," the instructions of Mr. Kinney, superintendent of the railroad between Philadelphia and Washington, to the

conductor of the midnight train. A carriage rolls up to the station in Philadelphia. A tall man steps out-the invalid brother for whom the lady has engaged the birth. She is delighted to see him. He enters the sleeping-car, followed by three other gentlemen-Judd, Lamon, and Pinkerton. The superintendent hands a package to the conductor, who lifts his hand-the signal for starting. The engineer pulls the throttle, and the train speeds away.