National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-05

ABRAHAN LLNC0LTS DREAN, As
TOLD By DICKENS.

TOLD BY DICKENS.
h In the new volume of Forster's "Life Of
dickens" 10 this letter from the great novelist,
I'D which . curious story 10 told: -
0ned with Charles Sumner, last Sunday,
against ny rule; and, ss had stipulated for
NO party, NJ. Secretary Stanton was the only
other guest besides his own secretsrv. Stan
Tod Is man wHh . very remarkable memory,
anu eAtraordinahly familiar with my books.
He and Sumner having been the first two
public men at the dying Presidents bedside,
and having remained with him until he
breathed his last, we fell into q very inter
esting conversation after dinner, when. each
of them giving his own narrative separateIy-
the usual discrepancies about details of time
were observable. Then Mr.. Stanton told me
a curious little story, which will form the re-
nisinder Of this short letter. On the after
i.oon Of the day on which the President was
shot, there was Cabinet council, at which
be presided. Mr.. Stanton, being at the time
Commandcr-in-C Chief of the Northern troops
that were concentrated about here, arrived
rather latc-indeed, they were waiting for
him-and, on his entering the room, the Presi-
dent broke Oh In something he was saying,
and remarked, Let US proceed to business,
gentlemen" Mr.. Stanton then noticed, with
great surprise, that the President sat with an
air Of dignity In h.s chair, instead of rolling
about In the most ungainly attitudes, as his
invsriable custom was, and that instead Of
telling Irrelevant or questionable stories, he
was grave and calm and quite different man.
Mr.. Stanton, on leaving the council with the
Attorney General, said to him: That is the
most satisfactory Cabinet meeting have at
tended for many q long day. What an extra
ordinary change In Mr.. Lincclnw The Attor-
ney General replied, I'VE all saw that before
you came I'm. While we were waiting for you,
he said, with his chin down on his breast,
Gentlemen, something very extraordinary is
going to happen, and that very soon.'" To
which the Attorney General had observed,
Something good, sir, l hope" When the
President answered very gravcly, 81 don't
know, don't know; but il will happen, and
shortly, to-"
As they were all impressed by his manner,
the Attorney General took him up again:
''Havc you received any information, sir, not
yet disclosed to usl" "No," answered the
President; "but have had q dream, and I
have Low had the same dream three times
once On the night preceding the battle Of Bull
Run, once Oh the night preceding such an
other" (naming battle also not favorable to
the North Ills chin sunk on his breast again,
and lie sat rejecting. "Might one ask the na-
tuic of this dream, sir a' said the Attorney
General. "Wcll," replied the President, with
out lifting his head or changing his attitude,
81 am on . great, broad, rolling river, and
l am in u boat-and drift and 1 drif-but this
Is not business" suddenly raising his face and
looking around the table, as Mr.. Stanton en-
tered. 'Lct US proceed to business, gentle
men." MIR. Stanton and the Attorney General
said, as they walked on together, 1t would be
curious to notice whether anything cnsued on
this, and they agreed to notice. He was shOe
that night.