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222

George Washington

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:20,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
George Washington

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Auction Date:2011 Apr 13 @ 19:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:5 Rt 101A Suite 5, Amherst, New Hampshire, 03031, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
ALS signed “Go: Washington,” one page both sides, 8 x 9.5, May 12, 1799. Seven months before his death, Washington writes from Mount Vernon to John Marshall, Edward Carrington, and William Heath regarding the structure of a national army to be raised for a possible war with France. In full: “Although the letter, of which the enclosed is a copy, is of old date, it has but just been received from the Secretary of War [James McHenry] for me to carry his views into effect; which, & the confidence I place in you, is the best apology I can make for asking you to assist me, in the business required. I have with the exception of short intervals, been so many years absent from this State; & so little from my own home while in it, that I am as little acquainted with present characters—a few excepted—as almost any man in it; and alone, as incompetent to a judicious selection of Officers to the force contemplated. The object, and principles, being sufficiently developed in the letter—Indeed being all the information I have on the subject, renders it unnecessary for me to add any sentiment of my own thereto—further than your aid in making the selection would be beneficial in a public view, and obliging me as an individual. No reason, that I can perceive, is opposed to the measure’s being known, as a cautionary preparative for an exigency, which, eventually, may happen;—and woul [sic] should it happen, save much time in the organization, when very little could be afforded under the pressure of the occasion. That you may want no light I can afford, I enclose also, the Inspector General’s division & subdivision of the State in Recruiting, & Rendezvousing districts; in order that, the secretary’s idea respected the distribution (as near as may be) of Officers to the population thereof, may have its due consideration, I forward likewise, a list of the Virginia quota of officers for the 12 Regiments, as arranged at Philadelphia in November last; but it is not in my power to discriminate betwen [sic] those who have, & those who have not accepted their appointments.” At the bottom of the first page, Washington has noted with regard to the letter’s later receipt from the Secretary of War, “a reason has been assigned for it.” Accompanied by the three separated sections of the original address leaf, all three affixed to a 7.5 x 9.5 sheet, addressed in Washington’s hand to “General Marshall and Colonels Carrington & Keith.”In very good condition, professionally repaired at the left margin, some partial fold breaks, a seal tear at the top passing through four lines of text, and uniform toning. Address leaf rates good with heavy soiling and several holes. This letter was quoted by historian and editor of the George Washington papers, W. W. Abbot, in a lecture about the first president. Henry’s letter mentioned in the opening of the letter offered here, is in the Washington papers, and is endorsed by Washington as having been received on May 6.

Washington lived only two years after leaving the presidency. Mount Vernon had been neglected for decades, and he spent most of his remaining days trying to make it solvent and functional. As relations with France worsened in mid-1799, however, the former President was again called to public duty when President Adams named Washington commander of the American Army. But the old general was now showing his age, and his duties were limited to largely symbolic tasks. He insisted on leaving control of the Army to Hamilton, whose primary responsibility was to screen officers to ensure their political reliability. Hamilton was mired in infighting with Adams within the Federalist Party.

Adams’ more moderate approach to negotiating with France to avoid war was testing the patience of Hamilton’s more extreme wing of the party. Eventually, Adams disbanded Hamilton’s army, which in turn aided in the downfall of the Federalist party. Marshall, a friend of Washington’s, was nominated to be Secretary of War by president Adams, just a week before this letter was written. However, on May 12, Adams withdrew the nomination, instead naming him Secretary of State. Confirmed by the United States Senate on May 13, Marshall took office on June 6, 1800. A unique letter from one of Washington’s last active roles with US politics, with Marshall—one of the recipients—having shared a rich and and interesting history with the Father of Our Country.
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