GDG- fatal first of Jany.'41

[Dennis Lawrence]

On this "fatal first of Jan. '41," Lincoln passes through an emotional 
crisis, the exact nature of which is unknown. One story is that he failed 
to appear at his own wedding; but more probably he broke his engagement 
withMary Todd . Whatever the occurrence, result was acute mental anguish.

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Extract fro letter to Joshua Speed, March 27  1842

I am not going beyond the truth, when I tell you, that the short space it 
took me to read your last letter, gave me more pleasure, than the total sum 
of all I have enjoyed since that fatal first of Jany.'41 [2]. Since then, 
it seems to me, I should have been entirely happy, but for the never-absent 
idea, that there is one still unhappy whom I have contributed to make so. 
That still kills my soul. I can not but reproach myself, for even wishing 
to be happy while she is otherwise. She accompanied a large party on the 
Rail Road cars, to Jack-sonville last monday; and on her return, spoke, so 
that I heard of it, of having enjoyed the trip exceedingly. God be praised 
for that.

Entire text at a

http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln1;node=lincoln1%3A298

Take Care

Dennis