George S. Phillips to Richard Yates

Cobb's Building 126 1/2

Room 15

[P.O. Drawer 6482]

To His Excellency

Governor Yates,

My dear Sir,

Immediately on receipt of your second thirty dollars I wrote to acknowledge the money and the accompanying letter. By your letter of yesterday I found that you did not get these missives. I have had past trouble with deliveries at our P.O. here and this week two letters and a batch of proofs of my book, which is very nearly ready, were handed over to me, dated a month back!

I could, at the time I speak of, have come over to

2/

Springfield, and earnestly desired to do so, I wrote you to that effect. But I am now engaged in my business, and cannot leave. Altho, I can readily enough complete the work here, and will engage to do so in two months, if you will do your share of the contract. Which was this: That either Mr. Lomis, or Mr. Snyder should come down here, & spend a day or two with me instructing me about the history of the documents ---their occasion, dates etc. And that I should receive in regular payments fifteen dollars a week. This is a matter of business, so far, altho it is & has been to me, a work of real love. But the weekly payments are absolutely essential

3/

to me, as I must employ a copyist to help me, in order to get the work out within the two months.

I have found a really great speech of yours, reported by me. It is in pencil---and I shall make a glorious thing of it. And be sure of the book also---conceit notwithstanding---for [me or?] the literary treatment shall be my best.

Believe me always,

Very [devoutly?] yours

Geo S. Phillips

Private

Phillips, George S

Chicago June 1864

In regard to Biography will have it ready for publication soon. Wishes Loomis or Snyder to come to Chicago

Snyder