Rare Autographs, Books and Manuscripts
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2017
William Henry Harrison Autograph Letter Signed in the Third Person. One page with integral address cover, 8" x 10"; Cincinnati, September 23, 1799. A letter written in the third person addressed to Governor Arthur St. Clair explaining that he cannot undertake Indian business because of his probable election to Congress. In full:
"Willm H. Harrison presents [his] Respectful compliments to the governor and is sorry to inform him that he believes it to be impossible for him to meet the Indians at the time proposed for the purpose of delivering them their stipendiary goods. Having been solicited some time ago to offer himself as a candidate for the office of member of Congress from this Territory & having made known to the member of the Legislature his intention of serving if elected the time fixed on for the delivery of the goods being so late as to make it impossible for him to attend to this business in the event of a possible election, he must request the Governor to appoint some other person to superintend the delivery of the goods. But should the termination of the election be unfavorable to Mr H if it is not thus too late & if the Governor should not have found a more proper person Mr H will with cheerfulness undertake the business."
The legislature met on the 23rd in Cincinnati, and Harrison was indeed elected as a delegate to Congress. Integral cover addressed in another hand. Docketed in an unknown hand, "W. H. Harrison refusing to meet with the Indians at Fort Wayne..."
Ex. R. Douglas Stuart.
Condition: small Paper loss affects a single word in each of the first four lines of text, but context remains. Usual mail folds, with light toning. Areas of damp staining along folds on left side, heavier on integral page. Mounting remnants on verso. With provenance from dealer Forest H. Sweet.
William Henry Harrison (Can't Meet with Indians/Congressional Election)
Click above for larger image.