“I am not at all surprised that the Indians should be uneasy at the recall of the Commissioners without others being appointed by the Province…” Sir Henry Moore (1713 – 1769). British Colonial leader, Royal governor of New York from 1765 – 1765. ALS. 2 ¼ pages. 6 ¼” x 8”. New York, Augst. 21, 1769. Sr.I am extremely concerned to hear of the accident mentioned in your letter to me & Hope that before this comes to hand, you will be free from all the effects of it. I am not at all surprised that the Indians should be uneasy at the recall of the Commissioners without others being appointed by the Province in their ( ), & mentioned my apprehensions of it to some members of the assembly before their proragation, but it was without effect and , & the inadequate provision made for the Interpreters and Smiths shows how little the matter in agitation was then understood; I shall renew my application to the members in Town, that they may be better prepared at the opening of the approaching session, where I hope every thing will be settled to the satisfaction of the Indians, & shall to morrow lay before His Majesty’s Council what you have urg’d upon that Head. The division of the County of Albany has been brought upon the carpet, in almost every session of assembly since my arrival here; All joyn in allowing it to be necessary, but they cannot agree on the like of division. I have never seen the petition mention’d in your letter concerning this matter, & shall be obliged to you for your sentiments on it, in support of it; as in all probability this affair will be reviv’d again in the next session, I should be glad to be prepar’d for any objections which may be rais’d to you plan. Nothing by my absence from this City & my indisposition since my return, has prevented my ( ) to you on the subjects of your former letter. I beg you will make my Compts. & apology to Col. Johnson, for not having forwarded his commission sooner, I can assure him it was order’d immediately upon the receipt of your letter & the delay has only been owing to the cause here set forth, but shall be dispatched immediately. I am with great truth & regard, Sr. your most obed.t & huml. Sert. H. Moore” Moore pens this letter just three weeks prior to his sudden death in New York City on September 11, 1769. Docketing is in Johnson’s hand. Fine.

[Robert Fulton]. London, 1796. Published by I. And J. Taylor. First Edition. 17 engraved plates. Contemporary cover boards, with significant wear. Worn spine. Robert Fulton was credited with the design for the first commercially successful steamboat. His breakthrough in this regard came in France 1803, when his steamboat went up the river Sienne. Earlier steam boat designs had been tested in the canals of England. Fulton also designed and built the world's first practical submarine, the Nautilus, launched in 1801. This work was Fulton's attempt to design a canal system that would be operational in hilly terrain and with little water, and concluded by advocating small canals. Fulton sent copies of his book to George Washington and other high government officials to demonstrate how the United States could benefit from canal navigation.

WILLIAM GLADSTONE (1809 - 1898). British Prime Minister. Front panel of an envelope addressed to American financier Cyrus Field. Signed by Gladstone at lower left. Cover indicates the letter was sent June 14, 1866. A fine association of these two figures. Trimmed. Fine

DS. 1 page. February 20, 1866. 13 3/4” x 12” Partly-printed Declaration of Dividends payable for shareholders of the Oswego & Syracuse RR Co. J. PIERPONT MORGAN (1837-1913). Financier. Probably the most prolific and powerful banker in American Financial history, J. Pierpont Morgan epitomized the financial genius, courage and flair that made possible many of the most important financings of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Morgans signs indicating his receipt of Dividends payable to his father Junius S. Morgan. Couple of light edge chinks at top. Fine.

Autograph Letter Signed, “Thomas Massie.” Two pages, 7 ¼” x 9 ¼. No place. No date. The document reads: “My Dear Father: I now take up my pen to enclose you another sheet in the letter Mr. (?) is so kind as to take charge of for me. It is reported here that Jamaica is taken by the French Toulon and Spanish Fleet which if true will give a dreadful blow to the English commerce, Intelligence which is published as authentic has also been received from the isle of France stating the capture of 30 British Indiamen by Admiral Linois. The French have now twenty ships of the Line at Brest beside a great many frigates independent of the Rochefort and Toulon fleets, and there are even more first rates at Antwerp that will be soon ready for sea. England cannot send to sea more than fifty ships of the Line because she actually wants men and money to equip the rest she is fighting now not for glory but actually for existence as a Nation. It is the opinion of most intelligent men whom I have conversed with that the Government will declare itself Bankrupt. The National debt is so enormous that to pay the interest of it requires so large a proposition of the money they are capable of raising, that enough is not left for the means of a sufficient defense. Mr. (?Gist) I suspect feared (?) went of this kind from his great anxiety to sell his stock and purchase Land.” With our correspondent’s reference to Admiral Linois’ capture of ‘British Indianmen’ we can date this fascinating letter to between 1803 and 1806, near the outset of the extended Napoleonic Wars. While our correspondent expresses fear of the collapse of Britain, England would continue to stand against the expanding French Empire with a revolving set of European allies until the Sixth coalition restored the French monarchy and exiled Napoleon to Elbe in 1814. A fascinating firsthand account of this turbulent period at a very dangerous point in England’s history.

Abbott Laurence (1792 – 1855). American businessman, politician and philanthropist. Founder of Lawrence, Massachusetts. ALS. 1 page. Boston, July 3, 1841. To John T. Adams, Washington, D.C. “I enclose a lwtter to Mr. Webster which please read and seal and send it to him or present it in person if you prefer it. We have nothing new here, Yours Truly, Abbott Lawrence” Folds. Fine.

Abbott Laurence (1792 – 1855). American businessman, politician and philanthropist. Founder of Lawrence, Massachusetts. ALS. 1 page. Boston Dec. 14th, 1849. To Henry C. Wiley, Esq., Saxton’s River, Vermont.; “I received your note in due course of mail and beg to state in reply that I believe General Taylor will redeem all the pledges we have made for him in the late political canvas. Please accept the assurances with which I remain dear sir, Your faithful obt. Servt. Abbott Lawrence” Folds. Fine

Autograph Letter Signed, “Geo. Haven.” Three pages, 7 ¾” x 9 ¾”. Meriden, MA. October 4, 1849. Addressed on integral leaf to “Liberty F. Thurber, Washington Vt.” Haven comments upon a suicide and later writes, in part: “ … Politics is what I don’t have much to do with now for I am drove very hard with study and finally I never had much to do with them. You seem to laugh because the Whigs & Abolitionists got beat last Spring. If you had minded the State vote last spring you should have found that Colby the Whig candidate gained about three thousand while Berry the abolition candidate lost to a great rate … the Mexican War raised considerable excitement this way. How it will terminate I cannot tell. I am for the Wilmot Proviso. No more slave territory. The Democrats in this State are against eh Wilmot Proviso. You are aware that the 1st & 3rd District sent a Whig & Abolitionist Representative last June. N.H. has now one Abolition Senator, one Democrat, two Democrat Representatives, one Abolitionist & one Whig. So they are even in the House & Senate …”