This is Abraham Lincoln's letter responding to Edward Everett who had commended him for his speech at the dedication of the Soldier's National Cemetery in Gettysburg. In this letter written on 20 November 1863 Lincoln wrote, "In our respective parts yesterday you could not have been excused to make a short address nor I a long one. I am pleased to know that, in your judgement, the little I did say was not entirely a failure."