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Lot 200: Samuel Otis Signed Letter 1777

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Lot  200: Samuel Otis Signed Letter 1777
<b>Autographs</b><hr><b>Revolutionary War Date 'Sam A. Otis' Autograph Letter 'hand to the President...'</b>

<b>SAMUEL A. OTIS, Massachusetts Statesman; Member of the Board of War and the Continental Congress.</b>
Autograph Letter Signed 'Sam A Otis,' 2 pages, December 24, 1777, Boston, 9.5' x 7.75', Choice Very Fine. To W. Gerry, in part: 'Your favr of the 9th December is a fresh obligation upon me, The inclosed will shew you my disagreeable Situation, & which when read if you think proper please to hand to the President... Mr. Mease has sent me a drat. upon the £ apprvd here for £6000 which is as a drop in the bucket, and tho I have by his permission drafted considerably upon him, unless I can negotiate in Charlestown no considerable sum can be raised. More over, I have promised 100000 in certificates, which its certainly bad pollicy to put in circulation, if practicable to raise the money by my Drafts...' The 'President' he refers to was Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress. One minor repair to lower right corner. Boldly written and signed on fine laid paper in dark brown ink.

Otis was a legislator in Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War, having been elected to the House of Representatives in 1776. He also served on the state board of war and was a collector of clothing for the army in 1777 when he wrote this letter. He returned to the state legislature after the war in 1784 and was Speaker of the House. In 1789, he was appointed Secretary of the United States Senate, a position he held until his death.