Everett was moved by the short speech and wrote to Lincoln , `` I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion , in two hours , as you did in two minutes . '' For his part , Everett was deeply impressed by the concise speech and wrote to Lincoln noting `` I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion , in two hours , as you did in two minutes . ''