There at once he sought the President, and, having sent in his name, he was immediately ushered into Lincoln's presence. He found the President sitting on a table in a half-reclining position, and talking with Secretary Seward. Lincoln rose, shook his hand very cordially, and said:

"I saw your uncle, Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, recently at Hampton Roads." Lieut. Stephens had not heard of the peace conference, and this was his first direct news of his family since his imprisonment. President Lincoln continued:

"I told your uncle I would send you to him, Lieutenant."

Naturally, the Lieutenant was deeply moved and grateful.

"You have the freedom of the city," Lincoln continued, "as long as you please to remain here. When you want to go home, let me know, and I will pass you through the lines."

The Lieutenant's appreciation and joy can be imagined. Lincoln talked on pleasantly, telling him of the Hampton Roads Conference, asking him questions, and making the hour a memorable one in many ways.

The Lieutenant remained in Washington about two weeks. Many old friends entertained him, and he was in a state of mind and body to set value on such a show of good will.

He recovered his strength rapidly, and when he went to Lincoln and told him he was ready to go to Richmond, Lincoln gave him the letter above quoted and a pass through the Federal lines, and then handed him his photograph, saying:

"You had better take that along. It is considered quite a curiosity down your way, I believe."

Lieut. Stephens went on to Richmond, reporting for duty, and though privileged to make a visit to his relatives in Georgia, and longing to see them, proceeded to West Virginia, where he served on the staff of General J. B. Gordon. Of course, he had been duly exchanged, the Federal officer who had been released going North, carrying with him memories of kindnesses and courtesy shown him in Richmond.— Century.

THE STORY OF THE IOWA PUBLIC ARCHIVES

Sixty-eight years ago out on the frontier, on the very border line of civilization, the manuscript materials of a wonderfully interesting series of books began to accumulate. In the little town of Burlington on the west bank of the Mississippi a modest church building had been made the capitol of a western Territory. Here sessions of the Legislative Assembly were held; here pioneer law-makers made up their daily journals of wise and unwise legislation, and listened to the messages and recommendations of a Governor whose mature counsels they too often failed to follow; and here the Chief Executive and the Secretary wrote and received letters, papers and documents from which the historian will some day obtain data for one of the most interesting chapters in the fascinating story of early Iowa.

In the frontier town of Burlington the annual Legislative Assemblies came and went with the seasons. Wm. B. Conway, Secretary of the Territory (and for a brief time Acting Governor), died. Governor Robert Lucas was removed from office. But in Old Zion Church the accumulation of manuscript letters, journals, reports and papers, went steadily on with never a pause.

In 1839 a new seat of government was located on the banks of the Iowa River in Johnson County; and the place was called Iowa City. Several years later, following the Governor, Secretary, Assembly and Supreme Court, the manuscript materials which had been collected at Burlington were carried to this new capital, Iowa City, and deposited in the Old Stone Capitol. In the haste, confusion, and carelessness of moving, some of the pages of the unpublished manuscripts were doubtless left behind; others were lost or destroyed. We know that not a few documents of priceless value were appropriated by individuals-public officers who were not always careful to distinguish between private records and public archives.

But the great work of recording and preserving the source materials of Iowa history went ceaselessly on. Courts, assemblies, constitutional conventions, as well as administrative officers, added new matter to the files of letters and papers. A new State was born in 1846; public business enlarged; and the body politic received more attention. The volume of "copy" doubled, trebled, and then doubled again, within the space of a few years.

In the winter of 1857 the precious accumulations of nearly twenty years were loaded upon bob-sleds and drawn by ox teams to the new capital, Des Moines. Again there was loss and destruction. Perhaps the letters of John Chambers were left in a confused heap on the floor of the Old Stone Capitol. Perhaps the papers of Ansel Briggs and Stephen Hempstead were thrown away or burned by the janitors. Perhaps the Executive Journals of John Chambers and James Clarke were used to kindle fires on the way to the Raccoon Forks of the Des Moines. Who knows? Fortunately, however, the manuscripts were not all lost. The letters

and records of the Lucas administration were safe at Plum Grove. Then, too, the letters and correspondence of Secretary Conway (alas for his reputation) survived the wrecks of moving. And the Executive Journal of the Governors from Briggs to Lowe have recently been discovered.

In 1857 a new constitution was adopted. The pioneer period soon came to a close. A great Commonwealth had been founded on the prairies. Administrative officers (the collaborators on the manuscript records) rapidly increased in number. During the half century that followed the administration of James W. Grimes, thousands upon thousands of papers and letters, literally tons of documentary material, have been added to the store of public archives. Hundreds of officers have added to the journals and filled up the records.

To-day the public records, the public archives of Iowa, are in a sense being " rescued " from the vaults in the capitol, where they have rested for several decades. They are being arranged and classified preliminary to their removal to the Hall of Public Archives in the new Historial, Memorial and Art Building. For the first time in the history of the State, the unpublished books of Iowa history are being made accessible to students and investigators. To be sure, there are many gaps in the files. No chapter of the manuscript is complete. The documents are often dim with age and torn through neglect and careless handling. But out of the crude, raw "copy" of the unpublished volumes of the public archives the historian will some day write the story of the origin of the Commonwealth.

Behold, the workers have appeared-the manuscripts are even now being classified the " copy is editing and the first volume of a new series of documents has already issued from the press! Surely Iowa has been aroused to the effort of preserving and publishing the unpublished books of the Commonwealth's history! -Mail and Times.

DES MOINES, Iowa.

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS

LETTER OF BRIG.-GEN. JOSEeph reed, prESIDENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

(This is addressed to Colonel Archibald Lochry, and is an important and interesting historical letter, in regard to plans for the defense of the frontiers of Pennsylvania, determined on by the Supreme Executive Council acting, in concert with Congress and Washington. This was the beginning of Sullivan's historic expedition against the Indians.)

SIR:

IN COUNCIL

Philadelphia, March 27th, 1779.

On the Eleventh Instant after several conferences with the Committee of Congress, on the defence of the frontiers, the House of Assembly resolved to commit the whole business to the Supreme Executive Council, who were to act in concert with the Congress and Genl. Washington on this important business. Upon this, as Conference by letters is very tedious and unsatisfactory the President proposed to go to the camp, and confer with the Commander-in-Chief in person, which he has accordingly done, very much to his, and our satisfaction. The General expressed his full Sense of the importance, necessity and duty, of taking most vigorous and speedy measures, for the Support and Protection of the frontiers. Such parts of the plan, as are not necessarily kept secret, in order to be more effectually executed we chearfully communicate to you, and hope it will prove a most powerful encouragement, to our distressed and apprehensive friends to Stand their Ground. A very respectable force which has been stationed for some time at Schohary, in the State of New York under General Hand, is ordered over to the frontiers of Northampton and Northumberland and will as far as any stationary forces can do, afford ample protection to those two counties. It is also concluded to raise five companies of rangers, making three hundred and eighty men in the whole, to whom such Encouragement will be given as we hope will raise the men without difficulty. The Commander-inChief has also ordered Colo. Rawlins' Regiment, now at Frederick Town in Maryland guarding the British prisoners, to march to Fort Pitt and

to be stationed at Kittanning or other suitable place to cover the frontiers of Westmoreland and Bedford. In the meantime, we have ordered detachments from the militia of York, Cumberland & Lancaster to march with all possible expedition for the immediate protection of Bedford and Westmoreland. It is also a very encouraging circumstance that Genl. Hand who is to command on the frontier of Northampton and Northumberland, and Colo. Broadhead at Fort Pitt, are both inhabitants of this State, and would have every inducement and motive to exert themselves to their utmost. But we are farther to acquaint you, that these are only parts of the System, for it is fully determined to penetrate into the Indian Country, and by a Seasonable vigorous Stroke, make them feel the weight of the American Arms. Measures are taking for this purpose, but you will see the evident propriety of silence on this subject, and we may venture to assure you that it has every appearance of being successful and decisive. We have now only to add that feeling as we do, most sincerely for your calamitous situation, no attention care or consideration shall be wanting to relieve it as soon as possible and that as far as we are enabled by the Assembly, in the necessary supplies, we shall do everything in our power for your comfort and protection. We have it under deliberation to offer a reward for Indian scalps; but it involves in it some considerations of a political nature, affecting the general system of the war with Great Britain. However, if it will answer an effectual purpose beneficial to you, we shall not hesi tate to do it.

We would wish you to make the contents of this letter as generally known by sending copies or otherwise as you can, and use your utmost influence to prevail upon the inhabitants not to abandon their habitations when there is such a prospect of Support.