LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 October Rare Books & Manuscripts #675  / 

30564

Isaac Hull Letter Signed "Isaac Hull"

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:350.00 USD Estimated At:700.00 - 1,200.00 USD
Isaac Hull Letter Signed Isaac Hull
<B>Isaac Hull Manuscript Letter Signed</B></I> "<I>Isaac Hull,</B></I>" two pages, separate conjoined leaves, 7.75" x 10". New Haven, Connecticut, September 10, 1841. <I>"To the Honourable E.G. Badger"</B></I> (actually, George E. Badger, Secretary of the Navy). In full, <I>"I feel that an apology is necessary for addressing you upon a subject not immediately connected with your official duties! but the motive which induces me, will I hope prove sufficient. I have strong reason to believe that there are persons recently from Mahon who are disaffected towards Mr Rich & will endeavour to excite prejudice against him at Washington. Mr. O. Rich occupied the Consulate at Mahon with great credit to his country & entirely to the satisfaction of the Spanish authorities, by whom he is greatly respected not only at Madrid but at the Baleric Islands. He performs the duties of Navy Agent which gives him barely a support. From close observation of two & half years I can bear testimony to his integrity - his honour & his unwearied attention to the interest of his country, & also his desire to comply with all reasonable demands of the officers upon that coast. I earnestly hope that it may be found expedient to continue Mr. Rich in his present situation - for I think no person could better understand or perform the duties of it."</B></I> Isaac Hull commanded the frigate <I>Constitution</B></I> ("Old Ironsides") in its defeat of the British frigate <I>Guerrière</B></I> in the War of 1812. He was in command of the Pacific squadron (1824-1827), the Washington Navy Yard (1829-1835) and the Mediterranean squadron (1838-1841). <B>Obadiah Rich</B></I> (1777-1850) had served as U.S. Consul in Valencia (1816-1820), residing in Madrid, and in Port Mahon (1834-1835). A noted bibliophile, he assembled a large collection of rare books and manuscripts relating to the early settlement and history of America and compiled many catalogues of books. <B>Secretary of the Navy Badger resigned on September 11, 1841, the day after Hull wrote him this letter,</B></I> as did the rest of John Tyler's cabinet (except for Secretary of State Daniel Webster) in protest over the President's veto of the National Bank bill. There is a record of an 1845 appointment by President Polk of "Nicholas B. Boyle, of Washington, to be consul for Port Mahon, in the Island of Minorca, in the place of Obadiah Rich, resigned" in the <I>Senate Executive Journal,</B></I> so, perhaps, Hull was successful in getting Mr. Rich his old job back. In very fine condition.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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