Caroline M. Kirkland to Richard Yates

Danville, Mar 22, '63

Sir

I should sooner have acknowledged your polite attention to my request for some copies of your message - but having learned from the papers that you had gone to Washington, I preferred waiting for your return. I beg leave now to offer my sincere thanks for your letter and for the Message. And allow me to add that I am particularly happy to possess the likeness of a gentleman who is not only the Governor of a great State but right worthy to be so.

The 20 copies of the Message proved none too many, for I have sent each copy to some intelligent and appreciative friend in

New York or elsewhere - Such as Peter Cooper; W. C. Bryant; D. D. Field - W. T. Blodgett; Isaac Sherman - &c &c Mr John E Williams, Prest. of Metropolitan Bank thus expresses his acknowledgements in a letter just received: "I duly recd. Gov. Yates's Message and read it with improvement and amazement.

What a miracle that whole western country is! x x x Gov. Yates is a trump! I honor such men wherever they are found, but I especially glory in them when they are in the centre of this world of ideas, of growth, of progress." And so on - you will excuse the freedom of expression in a perfectly private letter from a friend. I quote it merely to show you that there are some people who are gratefully appreciative of

the labors of public officers, although the public may sometimes seem careless.

I have been writing a short article on the subject of Illinois for the "Continental Monthly" - When it is published, I shall take the liberty of sending you a copy. I wrote to the Supt of Public Instruction requesting a copy of his Report, of which you make such favorable mention in the Message. - but as I have had no reply, I conclude he was absent from Springfield, or perhaps does not reside there.

I have been distributing 200 copies of Dr Bellows's Sermon on Unconditional Loyalty far and wide - and I shall send by mail a few copies which I hope you may see fit to hand to people whose loyalty needs a little stirring up.

I do not wish to be troublesome, but hearing some young men who are trying to organize a Company of Home Guards in Danville, intending to drill them thoroughly - talking of arms as the only difficulty, I volunteered to ask you the question, as I was going to write, whether there is any chance of them procuring some muskets & cartridge boxes from the State for such a purpose - It was suggested that there might possibly be old or returned arms that could be lent - for about 100 young men

I fear I am trespassing on your kindness - but you will perhaps be good enough to depute some one to answer my question.

Very respectfully

Yours

Caroline M. Kirkland

Caroline M Kirkland

Danville Ills

Recd Messages - sent to friends, complimentary notices - article for Continental Monthly - Can young men organize & get arms from the State?