[1861?]
Washington. Jaur. 1. 1860
Sir-
There are many + various rumors afoot- in 
regard to your cabinet- as to which, allow me- 
a stranger to you- one word of caution-
The last three administrations have been accused, 
as you are well aware- perhaps justly- with 
looseness /to use a mild term/ in the management of 
the different Departments. whereby much money has been lost 
to the Treasury- It is hoped & expected that you will 
carefully guard against this downward course & arrest it 
at the outset, by a judicious & well considered selection 
of the Heads of Department- The success of 
your admin- depends mainly upon this. In respect to 
that, there is no man whom I know any where, upon whose 
counsel you can so safely rely as upon that of Mr. Hamlin-
His great fort is, his great sagacity in the knowledge of 
men- and he has been a close scrutinizer of the characters
of the prominent men of all parties. during the past fifteen years- 
while you have been attending to your professional avocation.
Pray avoid being committed until you can
 consult him. Truly your friend Albert Smith
The Hon. A. Lincoln
2216

N.B. It is proper that I should add, that I did 
not support you- or any other candidate for 
the presidency at the late election +  I have 
no possible interest present or remote in the matter 
of this letter, except what every true friend
 of our country must necessarily have-
A. S.

Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.