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1792 AARON BURR Autograph Letter Signed With 2nd Integral FREE Franked Signature

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:1,400.00 USD Estimated At:2,800.00 - 3,600.00 USD
1792 AARON BURR Autograph Letter Signed With 2nd Integral FREE Franked Signature
Autographs
1792 AARON BURR Autograph Letter Signed With Integral and “FREE” Franking Signature "A Burr" Transmittal Leaf
AARON BURR (1756-1836). Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Lawyer and Politician, United States Senator (1791–1797) from New York, and Third Vice President of the United States (1801–1805), under Thomas Jefferson, chiefly remembered and reviled as the man who shot and killed rival Alexander Hamilton in the famous 1804 Duel of Honor.
April 8, 1792-Dated, A Historic “Canal Bill” Content Autograph Letter (Twice) Signed; first fully Signed, “Aaron Burr” (while United States Senator from New York) being signed at conclusion of his Letter, 1 page, measuring 8” x 9.75”, from Philadelphia, Choice Very Fine. Letter is complete, slight toning to the transmital portion, typical small loss from its red wax seal tear when opened, transmital folds. Signed a second time, in adding his franking signature, "A Burr" within the “FREE” Stamped Integral Transmittal Leaf, with Circular (9/AP) Stamp, all completely addressed in Burr’s hand.

An early Federal Period letter regarding New York legislative attempts to build what later became the Erie Canal. Burr writes to Nathaniel Lawrence, Esqr (1761-1797), at New York, (succeeded Aaron Burr as Attorney General of New York, 1792-1797), regarding Burr’s personal confidence to an associate that a pending (a.k.a. Erie Canal) Pro-Canal legislation Act, pending vote in Albany, would Pass. This Letter reads, in part:

"I wrote you a few days ago about the Canal bill, and some other matters — I have no doubt but the proposed amendment to that bill would pass, but whatever may be the prospect of Success I hope the attempt will be made unless reasons with which I am unacquainted forbid it— Do not forget to have some provisions made for the Salary of the late Atty Genl. from the 1 July 91 - I have heard nothing of his coming must not be relied on - Very Affy. Yours - (Signed) Aaron Burr" --- Docket reads, in full: “Mr. Burr 8th April 1792 -”.

The "Canal Bill" to which Burr referred was likely one of the first official Acts passed by the New York Assembly and Senate supporting what would become the Erie Canal, allowing for the incorporation of companies to compete its construction. Early efforts proved too ambitious, but work finally commenced in 1817 and completed in 1825. As Aaron Burr speculated widely in western New York real estate, the passage of a bill enabling the construction of a canal to the Great Lakes would have been of some interest to the New York Senator (possibly towards his own enrichment). According to the New York papers, the canal bill had passed both houses by the time Burr wrote this present letter. (See: Albany Gazette, 29 March 1792, page 2; the text of the Canal Bill At was published in two parts, in The New-York Journal & Patriotic Register, May 12 & 16, 1792.)
Nathaniel Lawrence was born on July 11, 1761 in Newtown, Queens County, New York. He abandoned his studies at Princeton College to fight in the Revolutionary War, was taken Prisoner at the capture of Fort Lafayette in Westchester County and was confined on a British Prison ship for two years.

In 1788, Nathaniel Lawrence was a Delegate to the New York State Convention to ratify the U.S. Constitution, and was Secretary to the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York from 1790 to 1794.

Nathaniel Lawrence was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1791, 1792, 1795 and 1796 and succeeded Aaron Burr as New York State Attorney General in 1792. His health was impaired by his long imprisonment and he died in Hempstead, Long Island on July 15, 1797, at the age of 36.