laced on them. Mr. Brady,
however, having no discretionary power, he declined to close the
bargain, but notified Mrs. Lincoln by mail. Of course, as yet, no reply
has been received. Mrs. L. desires that the auction should be deferred
till the 31st of the present month, and efforts made to dispose of the
articles at private sale up to that time.

"A Mrs. C-- called on Mr. Brady this morning, and examined minutely each
shawl. Before leaving the lady said that, at the time when there was a
hesitancy about the President issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, she
sent to Mrs. Lincoln an ashes-of-rose shawl, which was manufactured in
China, forwarded to France, and thence to Mrs. C--, in New York. The
shawl, the lady remarked, was a very handsome one, and should it come
into the hands of Mr. Brady to be sold, would like to be made aware of
the fact, so as to obtain possession again. Mr. Brady promised to
acquaint the ashes-of-rose donor, if the prized article should be among
the two trunks of goods now on the way from Chicago."

So many erroneous reports were circulated, that I made a correct
statement to one of the editors of the New York _Evening News_. The
article based upon the memoranda furnished by me appeared in the _News_
of Oct. 12, 1867. I reproduce a portion of it in this connection:

"Mrs. Lincoln feels sorely aggrieved at many of the harsh criticisms
that have been passed upon her for travelling incognito. She claims that
she adopted this course from motives of delicacy, desiring to avoid
publicity. While here, she spoke to but two former acquaintances, and
these two gentlemen whom she met on Broadway. Hundreds passed her who
had courted her good graces when she reigned supreme at the White House,
but there was no recognition. It was not because she had changed much in
personal appearance, but was merely owing to the heavy crape veil that
hid her features from view.

"She seeks to defend her course while in this city--and with much force,
too. Adverting to the fact that the Empress of France frequently
disposes of her cast-off wardrobe, and publicly too, without being
subjected to any unkind remarks regarding its propriety, she claims the
same immunity here as is accorded in Paris to Eugenie. As regards her
obscurity while in this city, she says that foreigners of note and
position frequently come to our stores, and under assumed names travel
from point to point throughout our vast domain, to avoid recognition