Figure 5. — Lincoln plate which bears affidavit of 

 Theodore R. Davis. {CourUiy of the Stale Histuiiial 

 Society of It'iscomin.) 



a personal friend of Theodore Haviland, had derived 

 directly from Mr. Haviland this manufacturer 

 identification of the china which Haughvvout deco- 

 rated. 



The official dinner service so delighted Mrs. 

 Lincoln that she ordered a similar set for herself. 

 On the personal service the initials "M. L." were sub- 

 stituted for the arms of the United States as decora- 

 tion. Mrs. Grinisley says ". . . this latter, I know, 

 was not paid for by the district commissioner, as was 

 most unkindly charged when it was stored away." ' 

 It has been suggested liiat the personal china was 



' Elizabeth Todd Grimslev, "Six Months in the VV'liite 

 House," Journal, Illinois Stale Historical Society, vol. 1'), nos. 

 3-4, pp. 42-73. 



Figure G. — Custard cup From the Purple- 

 Bordered .Slate China used during the 

 administration of President .Abraham Lin- 

 coln. (usNM acc. 206542; Smitlisonian piioto 

 44120-G.) 



paid for 1j\' a withdrawal of S110G.73 from the 

 Presidents account with the bank of Riggs and Co. 



The personal china was an indiscreet purchase, 

 at be.st, and Mrs. Lincoln was soon accu.sed of buying 

 the china out of public funds. In the midst of the 

 campaign in which Lincoln ran for re-election in 

 1864 an opposition newspaper, The .\eiv lork World, 

 published a bitter attack on the President and his 

 wife charging that the h\\\ submitted by Haughwout 

 for the State ser\ice had been padded to include the 

 cost of the personal china.' According to the paper's 

 editorial, the deceit was discovered when the amount 

 of the bill was questioned by a clerk in the Treasury 

 Department and "Honest Abe," when cornered, 

 made payment out of his own pocket. This .story 

 seems to be refuted by the evidence on the Haughwout 

 bill, which was signed by the Comptroller for payment 

 on September 16, 18t)l, within two weeks after the 

 china was received, and only three after President 

 Lincoln had approved the bill. 



The extent to which this controversy spoiled Mrs. 

 Lincoln's pleasure in the handsome purple service 

 perhaps can be measured by the fact that after 

 President Lincoln was re-elected, she purchased 

 another large china service for the White House. 

 A bill, receiuK- discovered at the National .Archives, 



s Ihe .Veil York Wort,!, September 26, 1864. 



PAPER 62: WHITE HOUSE CHINA OF THE LINCOLN ADMINISTRATION 



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