ss; but we hoped for better
results. But it {p.57} finally developed that the reputed agent would
expect us to pay him (contrary to our first impressions) quite a round
sum of money for the restoration and use of the papers before he would
deliver them to us. This awakened suspicions as to his reliability and
a detective, to whom we sent his name and number for investigation,
informed us that no such man could be found; and undoubtedly he was
some dishonest person seeking to obtain money under false pretenses.
And so the family, as for many years past, now knows nothing as to the
parties who hold the papers or where they are. A singular fatality
seems to have awaited all the papers placed at Dr. Peck's disposal or
advice. His own papers were generally destroyed or lost, and the old
"Lemen Family Notes" placed some years after his death, partly as he
had advised, cannot be found. But while Dr. Peck's lost papers are a
distinct and irreparable loss, no loss is sustained in the
misplacement of the old Lemen notes, as every line or fact of any
value in them was copied and the copies are all preserved; and nearly
all the more important ones have been published, except a very few,
including Rev. James Lemen's interviews with Lincoln, as written up by
Mr. Lemen on ten pages of legal cap paper, and that paper will
probably be published soon, if it is not held specially for the James
Lemen history.

As to that history, it will be delayed for some time, as the writer,
who was expected to see to its preparation, was named by the State
Baptist Convention as a member of the Baptist State Committee to
assist with the James Lemen monument; and much of the matter intended
for the history was published in connection with the labors of the
State Committee. One object of the history was to secure or to
influence that degree of recognition of the importance of the services
of Rev. James Lemen, Sr. and his sons, with a few co-workers of the
latter, in the early history and interests of both the Baptist cause
and the State, on the part of the Baptists, to which the family
thought them entitled. But since the Baptists, the "Sons of the
Revolution," and others have placed a monument at the grave of the old
State leader and Baptist pioneer, the Rev. James Lemen, Sr., it is
felt that the object for making the history has already been in part
realized. Another circumstance which has delayed it, is the poor
health of the writer; so the prospect i