945

Printed and written D. s., 1 p., 4to. Head Quarters, June 13, 1783. Dircharge certificate of Jacob Rowe. Signed also by Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. and Francis Tufts.

946

D. s., 1 p., folio, framed. Aug. 5, 1789. Commission of Jeremiah Lansing, as "Surveyor of the Port of Albany."

947 D. s., 1 p., large 4to. Baltimore, September 11, 1790. Ship's passport for the sloop "Polly" of New York. Signed also by Edmund Randolph. Repaired. With portrait. 2 pieces.

948 A. L. s., 2 pp., 4to, with blank second leaf (torn at central fold and repaired, destroying a few words on the inner margin of the second page). Philadelphia, Jan. 2, 1791. To Governor St. Clair of the Northwest Territory. Portrait.

A VERY IMPORTANT LETTER ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY, MARKED “ (PRIVATE)." General St. Clair had been obliged by pressing frontier conditions to make laws by proclamation, and President Washington, gently admonishes him in this confidential letter, not to carry this method to excess.

".. In noticing these, my mind naturally recurred to your letter to me dated at Cahokea on the first of May last, wherein you observe, that the absence of the Judges had embarrased you a great deal; and after waiting for them as long as possible, that you had been under the necessity of directing by proclamation certain regulations suited to the peculiar circumstances of the Country

"The imperfect State in which the Legislation of the North Western Territory is the want which the executive has often felt of the necessary coadjutors to adopt even the most urgent Laws and the peculiar situation of a frontier Country, are circumstances which may not strike every one It therefore becomes a matter of high importance that the utmost circumspection should be observed in the conduct of the Executive

"I have therefore thought it best to give you this intimation in a private and friendly letter

949

A. L. s., 1 p., 4to. Philadelphia, November 1, 1792. To James Mercer.

A FINE LETTER THANKING HIM FOR HIS PROMPTNESS IN SENDING HIM
THE DEEDS TO LOTS PURCHASED AT THE SALE OF COL. MERCER'S ESTATE.

WASHINGTON ON JEFFERSON'S RETIREMENT 950 WASHINGTON (GEORGE). A. L. s., 1 p., 4to. Philadelphia, Aug. 12th, 1793. To Thomas Jefferson. With autograph address. On his retirement as Secretary of State. With 3 portraits. 4 pieces.

THE ORIGINAL DRAFT OF A LETTER OF HIGH IMPORTANCE, PROVING THAT
AS EARLY AS August, 1793, IT HAD BEEN ARRANGED BETWEEN WASHING-
TON AND HIS SECRETARY OF STATE, THAT THE LATTER MIGHT RETIRE IN
JANUARY, 1794. It appears generally to be thought that Jefferson's
retirement on Jan. 1, 1794, came with some suddenness as a climax
of his disagreements with Hamilton. Washington writes: "I clearly
understood you on Saturday.-And, of what I conceive to be two evils,
must prefer the least-that is to dispense with your temporary
absence in autumn (in order to retain you in office 'till January)
rather than part with you altogether at the close of September. It
would be an ardent wish of mine that your continuance in office
could have been through the whole of the ensuing session of Congress
-for many, very many, weighty reasons one of which, and not
the least is, that in my judgment the affairs of this country, as they
relate to foreign powers-Indian disturbances-and internal policy—
will have taken a more decisive, & I hope agreeable form than they yet
bear, before that time

[SEE ILLUSTRATION]

951

A. L. s., 2 pp., 4to. Phil'a., 22d Jan'y., 1795. To James Madison. Desiring his advice on the propriety of complying with certain requests made by the son of Lafayette. With 3 portraits. 4 pieces.

A SUPERB LETTER. Young Lafayette had desired Washington to assist in obtaining his father's release from imprisonment in Olmutz. Washington here writes of having consulted Hamilton, asking him not only to view the case himself but to endeavor to ascertain the opinions of others thereon; Hamilton in due course reported that he felt inclined to grant young Lafayette's request, although this was not the opinion of those whom he had consulted. "Upon_the_receipt of that letter," writes Washington, "I wrote to Mr. La Fayette on the 22nd of Nov'r. and enclosed it to Col. Hamilton the next day. To the last of which I received the reply of November 26th.—From_thence I heard nothing further on the subject until the letters of Mr. La Fayette & his tutor, of the 25th of Dec'r. were received.-Since which nothing has been said or done in the matter—and I wish to know what you think (considering my public character) I had best do to fulfill the obligations of friendship and my own wishes, without involving

any consequences

952

A. L. s., 1 p., 4to. Philadelphia, 25th Aug., 1795. To Major William Jackson. Friendly letter. With portrait. Original draft, with endorsement in Washington's hand. "To the close attention I have paid to it [business] . . . You must attribute my seclusion from company This cause also, has, in a manner, prevented me crossing the threshold of my own door, except at times when I have found it convenient to go to one another of the Public Offices

Dear Ir,

Philadelphia Aug. 12. t. 1793

I clearly understood you on Saturday. - And, of what Jeenedive. to be two evils, must prefer the beast_that is - to dispense with your tempora. ry absence in autums (in order to retain you in Office till January) rather that part with you altogether at Keclose of September.

forma

If would be an ardent wish of mine that your continuance in Ofice (even at the expence of somesa: orifice of inclination have been throug Lesseen of Compress-andmatons which Sony which present them selves to my mind; one of which, and nor the least is, that in my judgment the affairs of this Country as they relate to to Veigh powers - Indian disturbances and internal policy - will have taken a more they now bear, before that time

decisir &, & I hope aprecable for
he

Laps, other public senant might
Aulpean retirement. If this canserbe, my
reat wish is, that your absence from the
Seat of Goversm. ix autums, may be as
Short as you comexiently can make it
Sherias
with much mith & repard
I am. Your Obed. & Aff Sex

REDUCED FACSIMILE OF WASHINGTON'S LETTER

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON

953 WILSON (WOODROW). 2 L. s., each 1 p., 4to. Trenton, November 15, 1912. A letter of appreciation; Washington, March 25, 1914. Sending his autograph. To Mr. Manning. With photograph. 3 pieces.

954

955

956

957

Autographed Extract from his Message to Congress, December, 1914. Written on 1 p., 8vo. The White House, Washington. No date.

ENTIRELY IN WILSON'S HANDWRITING.

"We are a true friend to all the nations of the world, because we
threaten none, covet the possessions of none, desire the overthrow of
none. Our friendship can be accepted, and is accepted, without reser-
vation, because it is offered in a spirit and for a purpose which no one
need ever question or suspect. Therein lies our greatness.
We are
the champions of peace and of concord. Woodrow Wilson."

Typewritten L. s., 1 p., 4to. 11, 1915. To Frank D. Beattys.

Cornish, N. H., August With portrait. 2 pieces.

"Alas, the thing you suggest is literally impossible. If I ever write another book, it will be in an entirely different field; I would not for the world review in a book the events and questions of this world struggle, and, indeed, I should feel too near to it to believe that I could be sure of looking at it at arm's length and with entirely dispassionate judgment," etc.

Typewritten Letter, signed. Washington, November 14, 1923. To the Editor of the Knickerbocker Press, Albany. A letter of appreciation. With a number of news clippings and later portraits.

Typewritten Manuscript of "The States and the Federal Government," 19 pp., folio; Galley-proofs of the same essay, 6 pp., long folio. Both enclosed in half red morocco slip case.

A SPLENDID WILSON MANUSCRIPT. The proof bears numerous corrections in the author's hand.

958 VANCE (ZEBULON B., Governor of North Carolina). A. L. s., 6 pp., 4to. Raleigh, December 30, 1863. To Gov. Brown of Georgia.

ΑΝ IMPORTANT CONFIDENTIAL LETTER NARRATING THE GROWING
STRENGTH IN HIS STATE FOR AN HONORABLE PEACE ON FAVORABLE TERMS,
AND COMPLAINING OF THE STUBBORNNESS AND HARSH TREATMENT AT
THE HANDS OF JEFFERSON DAVIS, AND ASKING THE ADVICE OF HIS
BROTHER EXECUTIVE ON THE SUBJECT.

959 VAN CORTLANDT (PHILIP, Aide to Washington). A. L. s., 2 pp., folio. Croton River, Feb. 22, 1808. To his brotherin-law Edmund C. Genet. On family affairs.

960

A. L. s,. 1 p., 4to. Onondaga, June 10, 1820. To John Taylor, Albany.

FINE LETTER relating to a trip over a portion of the Erie canal before its completion. "Last week I had the pleasure to pass from Utica to Montezuma on the Canal in One of the passage boats, which altho it was not one of the best was very commodious You may make easy Journeys from Albany to Utica then you will take the Čanal where you may eat, Drink and Sleep from the day you Embark untill they Reland you again at Utica . . .'

961 VAN CORTLANDT (PIERRE, General in the War of 1812). A. L. s., 1 p., folio. New York, Dec. 27, 1798. To Robert Yates, Vincent Mathews, etc. Business letter respecting a deed by John Haycock to Daniel Thew.

962 VAN DYCK (CORNELIUS, Officer in the American Revolution). D. s., 2 pp., folio. Albany, July 13, 1781. Signed Also by Aaron Oorson, another officer, and twice by Abraham Ten Broeck, Mayor. Affidavit that the cause of the mutiny of the American soldiers at Albany was for lack of pay.

963 VAN RENSSELAER (KILLIAN, Second Lord of the Manor). D. s., 2 pp., 4to. Albany, Feb. 18, 1716/7. Signed also by Pieter Van Brugh and Myndert Schuyler, 6th and 13th Mayors of Albany, respectively, and by Philip Livingston. With seal.

Indenture leasing to Van Rensselaer the use of a roadway.

964 VAN SCHAACK (PETER, Jurist). A. L. s., 2 pp., 4to. Kinderhook, Oct. 18, 1819. To Harmanus Bleecker. On a legal case.

965 VARICK (RICHARD, Aide to Washington and Arnold). A. L. s., 2 pp., folio. Head Quarters, New Jersey, March 30, 1779. To Lewis Woodruff, Commissary of Musters. "We have a certain account of one Transport with 400 Hessians & High Landers from Halifax to New York being cast away & every Soul perished at Egg Harbour in last week's Snow Storm. One armed vessel of the Enemy's with her Prize taken from us were also there cast away

966 A. L. s., 1 p., 4to. Stephen Van Rensselaer.

967

A. L. s., 3 pp., folio. New York, 6th November, 1828.

To William B. Sprague.

A FINE LETTER, relating much of the Story of his life, and mentioning the distinguished men with whom he had corresponded.