rect reference to the will of God, and the everlasting principles of righteousness and justice, as they were during his administration. It was eminently a Christian administration— one which, in its policy and acts, expressed the convictions of a Christian people. Standing above the loose morality of party politics, standing above the maxims and conventionalisms of statesmanship, leaving aside all the indirections and insincerities of diplomacy, trusting the people, leaning upon the people, inspired by the people, who in their Christian homes and Christian sanctuaries gave it their confidence, this administration of Abraham Lincoln stands out in history as the finest exhibition of a Christian democracy the world has ever seen. The power of a true-hearted Christian man, in perfect sympathy with a true-hearted Christian people, was Mr. Lincoln's power. Open on one side of his nature to all descending influences from Him to whom he prayed, and open on the other to all ascending influences from the people whom he served, he aimed simply to do his duty, to God and men. Acting rightly, he acted greatly. While he took care of deeds, fashioned by a purely ideal standard, God took care of results. Moderate, frank, truthful, gentle, forgiving, loving, just, Mr. Lincoln will always be remembered as eminently a Christian President; and the almost immeasurably great results which he had the privilege of achieving, were due to the fact that he was a Christian President.

Conscience, and not expediency, not temporary advantage, not popular applause, not the love of power, was the ruling and guiding motive of his life. He was conscientious in his devotion to the Constitution and the laws. In this he was in advance of his people, and in advance of a multitude of his own friends. With every constitutional right, he dealt tenderly and carefully, while taunted by his own friends with subserviency to an institution which, in his inmost soul, he hated. His respect for law was as profound and sincere as his respect for God and his will. Uninfluenced by popular clamor, and unbent by his own humane and Christian desire to see all men free, he did not speak the word of

emancipation until his duty to the Constitution which he had sworn to protect and defend demanded it. There is no doubt that, if he could have saved the country without destroying slavery, he would have done it, and done it against the most ardent wishes of his heart, through his regard for the Constitution which protected the inhuman institution, and the oath by which he had been invested with power. It was not slowness, nor coldness, nor indifference, that delayed the emancipation of the slaves. It was loyal, devoted, self-denying

virtue.

Mr. Lincoln was conscientious in his patience. He knew and felt the weakness of human nature, and appreciated the force of education in moulding character and opinion. Hence, he was patient with his enemies, and equally patient with equally unreasonable friends. No hasty act of his administration can be traced to his impatience. When such an act was performed, and was followed by its inevitable consequences of evil, it originated in the impatience of those whom he could not control. His steps were taken with the deliberateness of destiny; and, as these steps are retraced by the historian, he can compare them to nothing but those leisurely and irresistible proceedings by which the Great Father in whom the good President trusted had wrought out his will in creation and Providence. Step by step, hand in hand with events, he worked and waited patiently, for the great consummation to which all the efforts of his life were devoted. Maligned, misunderstood, abused, cursed, his motives the foot-balls of malice and envy and pride and foolishness, he waited patiently for history to vindicate him, and permitted no smarting sense of personal injustice to divert him from his duty to his country.

He was conscientious in his regard for human rights. His opposition to slavery, and his love of the African, were no mere matters of policy, or means for winning power. He had a tender, brotherly regard for every human being; and the thought of oppression was a torment to him. There was nothing that moved him to such indignation as a wrong committed against the helpless ones of his own kind. He believed

that negroes were men, endowed by their Creator with the rights of men; and, thus believing, there was no manly privilege which he enjoyed, that he would not have been glad to see conferred upon them. Hence, had he lived, he would logically have numbered himself among those who will agitate the right of universal loyal suffrage until that right shall be secured to every loyal man living under the American flag.

In Mr. Lincoln's life and character, the American people have received a benefaction not less in permanent importance and value, than in the revolution in opinion and policy by which he introduced them to a new national life. He has given them a statesman without a statesman's craftiness, a politician without a politician's meannesses, a great man without a great man's vices, a philanthropist without a philanthropist's impracticable dreams, a Christian without pretensions, a ruler without the pride of place and power, an ambitious man without selfishness, and a successful man without vanity. On the basis of such a manhood as this, all the coming generations of the nation will not fail to build high and beautiful ideals of human excellence, whose attractive power shall raise to a nobler level the moral sense and moral character of the nation. This true manhood—simple, unpretending, sympathetic with all humanity, and reverent toward God-is among the noblest of the nation's treasures; and through it, God has breathed, and will continue to breathe, into the nation, the elevating and purifying power of his own divine life.

Humble child of the backwoods-boatman, ax-man, hired laborer, clerk, surveyor, captain, legislator, lawyer, debater, orator, politician, statesman, President, savior of the republic, emancipator of a race, true Christian, true man-we receive thy life and its immeasurably great results, as the choicest gifts that a mortal has ever bestowed upon us; grateful to thee for thy truth to thyself, to us, and to God; and grateful to that ministry of Providence and grace which endowed thee so richly, and bestowed thee upon the nation and mankind.

Energetic men, of good address, are wanted in all parts of the United States and Canada, to act as agents for the LIFE OF ABRAHAM LInCOLN, by Dr. J. G. Holland; HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA, by Rev. J. S. C. Abbott; LIFE OF WASHINGTON, by Hon. J. T. Headley; and other popular works, which are sold only by subscription. Persons wishing an agency, can obtain full particulars by applying at the office of the subscriber, or addressing by mail,

GURDON BILL,

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.

DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE.

HOLLAND'S

LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN,

LATE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

COMPRISING A FULL AND COMPLETE

HISTORY OF HIS EVENTFUL LIFE,

WITH

INCIDENTS OF HIS EARLY HISTORY, HIS CAREER AS A LAWYER AND POLITICIAN, HIS ADVANCEMENT TO THE PRESIDENCY OF

THE UNITED STATES AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF

THE ARMY AND NAVY THROUGH THE MOST

TRYING PERIOD OF ITS HISTORY,

TOGETHER WITH AN ACCOUNT OF

THE TRACICAL AND MOURNFUL SCENES Connected with the Close of his Noble and Eventful Life.

BY DR. J. G. HOLLAND,

The widely known and favorite author of the "Timothy Titcomb" Letters, "Bitter Sweet," "Gold Foil," &c., &c.

The author's aim will be to describe as graphically as may be the private and public life of the humble citizen, the successful lawyer, the pure politician, the far-sighted Christian statesman, the efficient philanthropist, and the honored Chief Magistrate. The people desire a biography which shall narrate to them with a measurable degree of symmetry and completeness, the story of a life which has been intimately associated with their own and changed the course of American history through all coming time. Such a narrative as this it will be the author's aim to give-one that shall be sufficiently full in detail without being prolix, and circumstantial without being dull.

The work will be published in a handsome Octavo volume of about five hundred and fifty pages, on fine paper, printed from electrotype plates, and will be embellished by an elegant Portrait of Mr. Lincoln, with a finely engraved view of his residence in Springfield, Illinois, and other Steel engravings.

The work will also be issued in the German Language at the same price of the English edition.

OF THE

CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA,

COMPRISING A FULL AND IMPARTIAL ACCOUNT OF THE

ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE REBELLION,

OF THE VARIOUS

NAVAL AND MILITARY ENGAGEMENTS,

OF THE

Heroic Deeds performed by Armies and Individuals,

AND OF

TOUCHING SCENES IN THE FIELD, THE CAMP, THE HOSPITAL, AND THE CABIN.

BY J. S. C. ABBOTT,

Author of the "Life of Napoleon," "History of the French Revolution," "Monarchs of Continental Europe," &c.

ILLUSTRATED WITH DIAGRAMS AND NUMEROUS STEEL ENGRAVINGS, OF BATTLE SCENES AND PORTRAITS OF DISTINGUISHED MEN, BY THE BEST ARTISTS.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

And containing over 1,100 large Royal Octavo pages. The author of this work is well known as one of the most talented and popular historical writers; and his History of the Great Rebellion will not be surpassed in merit and attractiveness by any other that may be offered to the public.

The Illustrations are all from original designs, Engraved on Steel, by the best Artists, expressly for the work, and comprise portraits of distinguished commanders and civilians, with the prominent battle scenes by sea and land.

This work will be published in the German language as well as in the English.

THE ILLUSTRATED

LIFE OF WASHINGTON,

WITH

VIVID PEN-PAINTINGS OF BATTLES AND INCIDENTS, TRIALS
AND TRIUMPHS OF THE HEROES AND SOLDIERS OF
REVOLUTIONARY TIMES.

BY HON. J. T. HEADLEY,

Author of "Washington and his Generals," "Napoleon and his Marshals," "Sacred Mountains," &c.

TOGETHER WITH AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT of

MOUNT VERNON AS IT IS,

BY BENSON J. LOSSING.

The whole embellished with numerous Steel and Wood Engravings, and a splendid Colored Lithographic View of Mount Vernon

and Washington's Tomb.

This beautiful Royal Octavo volume of over 500 pages embraces a brilliant narration of the facts and incidents in the life of that remarkable man, and Father of his Country-George Washington; together with his connection with the Revolutionary War, &c. Comprising much new and important information, derived from the papers of General Putnam, and the researches of Mr. Lossing,-information embraced in no other book. When every heart throbs with enthusiastic gratitude, and public feeling is thoroughly aroused towards the memory of Washington, a biography from the pen of Mr. Headley, of that great and good man, is of peculiar interest, and would necessarily be in great demand. Already thousands of copies have been sold, and the demand is every day increasing, as the success of our agents abundantly prove.