Lincoln Slavery Letter Expected to Set Auction Record

On April 3, 2008, Sotheby’s New York will offer for sale Presidential and Other American Manuscripts from the Dr. Robert Small Trust. Highlighting the collection is Abraham Lincoln'sheartfelt and emotional reply to a “Children's Petition to the President asking him to free all the little slave children in this country,” from 1864, which at an estimate of $3/5 million is expected to become the most expensive Lincoln manuscript ever sold. Additionally, the collection provides an interesting perspective on politics today, addressing issues such as: foreign policy, war, acrimony felt between candidates, and even the exhaustion of long campaign tours. The collection, which is estimated to bring $7.9/11.9 million, will be on public exhibition in Sotheby’s galleries from March 29-April 2, 2008.

Here's Lincoln's reply:

Please tell these little people I am very glad their young hearts are so full of just and generous sympathy, and that, while I have not the power to grant all they ask, I trust they will remember that God has, and that, as it seems, He wills to do it.