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ADAMS, John Quincy

[Autograph letter, signed, to Ward Nicholas Boylston discussing the Boylston prize at Harvard and University politics]

Washington. May 24, 1819. [3]pp. Quarto, on a folded folio sheet.Old fold lines. Minor soiling to third page, but generally quite clean. Very good plus.

J.Q. Adams on Harvard Politics

A fine and lengthy letter written by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams to his father's cousin and close friend, Ward Nicholas Boylston, on awarding the Boylston prize just founded by him, and discussing candidates for a Harvard professorship. Adams graduated from Harvard and was himself a professor of rhetoric there between diplomatic assignments. He writes:

"I have observed with pleasure and gratitude your persevering efforts of beneficence to the University at Cambridge, and have heard of the Institution of your Prizes for Elocution, which cannot but be attended with effects. Its operation by experience may perhaps suggest some rules for the distribution of the Prizes, which, if you should conclude to make the Institution permanent, you may think it advisable to prescribe. Would it not for instance be useful to direct, that if one of the undergraduates should obtain one of the first prizes, he should not upon a succeeding year be admitted as a competitor to speak in the same language? And would it not be proper to enlarge the circle of languages in which the pieces may be spoken - at least by admitting the French? From the experience which I have had of the defects most common among the young orators, I think it should be prescribed as an inflexible rule that no prompting should be allowed; and that whatever merit any of the speakers might display, no prize should be given in any case where a failure of memory should be perceptible."

Adams goes on to discuss his ideas regarding the Professorship of Rhetoric and Oratory, specifically that the candidate be well qualified for the office, not just "for any quality required by the place...the corporation of Harvard University, though including some of the best men in the world, is and for many years has been more of a Caucus Club than a literary and scientific society... When they have a place to fill their question is not, Who is fit for the place, but Who is to be provided for? and their whole range of candidates is a Parson or a Partizan or both."

A fine, lengthy letter, written out in Adams' distinctive hand

#23719$14,500.00
 
 
BOER WAR. - Sir William Selby CHURCH (1837-1928)

A collection of manuscript and typescript material relating to Sir William's visit to South Africa as part of the Royal Commission on the treatment of the sick and wounded in South Africa in 1900

1900 [and later]. 2pp. ALS, "Train on way to Southampton", 4 August 1900, from Church to his sisters; 4pp. ALS with associated envelope, Cape town, 28 August 1900, from Church to his sisters; 6pp. ALS, "Rail between Howick & Pr.Maritzburgh", 18 September 1900, from Church to his sisters; 2 volumes of copy typescripts, manuscript titling to upper covers "40th Day / October 3rd. 1900 / Cape Town / Dr. W.S. Church" (recto only of 92 leaves); "41st Day / October 4th. 1900 / Simon's Town / Dr. W.S. Church" (recto only of 23 leaves); later typescript transcriptions of a series of 12 letters from Sir William Church to his wife, dated 5 August 1900 - 27 October 1900 (134 leaves, recto only); 2 copy photographs (1 a posed image of 13 Boer Commando; the second titled in the negative "Camp Service / Kroonstad. O.R.C.").

A fascinating group of manuscript and typescript material from the Boer War: a first view of the Commission that was sent out in response to damaging allegations that had been made by W. A. Burdett-Coutts, Conservative Member of Parliament for Westminster, regarding the condition of hospitals in South Africa

The letters to his sisters are as follows:
2pp. ALS, "Train on way to Southampton", 4 August 1900, from Church to his sisters, written on the train on his way from London to Southampton to join the R.M.S. "Dunottar Castle", the Royal Commission's transport to South Africa.
4pp. ALS with associated envelope, Cape Town, 28 August 1900, from Church to his sisters, following his arrival in Cape Town, giving impressions of the voyage, Cape Town, the work of the Royal Commission "I have seen nothing here that would not be a credit to any hospital in England .. Tomorrow morning we board our train & and in it we shall live until we have finished out tour of inspection".
6pp. ALS, "Rail between Howick & Pr.Maritzburgh", 18 September 1900, from Church to his sisters, revising his opinion of Johannesberg "It is a marvellous town ... The civilian population has nearly deserted it ... We saw well dressed people crowding round the office for relief tickets", mentioning that both Lord Roberts and Kitchener had given evidence, describing other places the Commission had visited and commenting on the impossibility of the situation at Ladysmith and criticising Sir G. White for his choice of defensive positions..

The two volumes of copy typescripts cover two days of evidence gathering. They seem to have been prepared for Sir William Church, as his personal record of what was said. A comparison with the published minutes show no apparent differences between the two. Cf. Minutes of Evidence taken before the Royal Commission appointed to consider and report upon the care and treatment of the sick and wounded during the South African Campaign (London: 1901) pp.512-536

The group of twelve letters (typescript, 134 leaves) to his wife are particularly interesting, as they give some background to the work of the Commission as well as giving an informed civilian's view of some aspects of the war. Sir William Church wrote the letters as a combination letter and diary. The entries start on the first day on board ship, and cover the whole of his South African trip, ending with his return to London. They offer a fascinating snap-shot: Sir William writes of shipboard life, the people he meets and the places he visits, he also writes knowledgably about the plants and animals he encounters, the work of the Commission, and comments on various aspects of the war.

Sir William Selby Church enjoyed a very distiguished career in medicine. the Royal College of Physicians online biography is as follows: "William Church was born at Hatfield, the son of John Church, JP, DL, and his wife, Isabella, daughter of George Selby of Beal, Northumberland, whose family were hereditary Janitors of Berwick. At Harrow and University College, Oxford, he distinguished himself as a cricketer. He took his degree with first class honours in natural science in 1860 and then obtained Lees readership in anatomy at Christ Church, which he held until 1869. He entered St Bartholomews Hospital as a student in 1862 and proceeded to his BM degree two years later. He first held brief appointments at the Royal General Dispensary and the City of London Hospital for Diseases of the Chest before being elected in 1867 assistant physician and lecturer on comparative anatomy at St Bartholomews. In 1868 he became demonstrator of morbid anatomy and in 1875 full physician; he remained on the active staff till the year 1902.

Meanwhile, he had established for himself a reputation as one of his professions foremost administrators. From 1889 to 1899 he represented Oxford University on the General Medical Council, and from 1899 to 1905 he held office as President of the Royal College of Physicians, having already served as Censor and delivered, in 1895, the Harveian Oration. In 1900 he visited South Africa as a member of the Royal Commission sent out to investigate the treatment of sick and wounded soldiers. He was chairman of the executive committee of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund from its foundation in 1902 until 1923 and of the distribution committees of the King Edward VII Hospital Fund for London from 1903 to 1918. From 1907 to 1909 he acted as the first president of the Royal Society of Medicine, having taken a leading part, with Sir John MacAlister, in the amalgamation of medical societies which preceded its foundation. He was created a baronet in 1901 and a KCB in 1902.

Although Church never acquired nor sought a large consulting practice, he was widely respected as an able clinician and diagnostician. He edited his Hospitals Reports from 1877 to 1893. He wrote an article on rheumatic fever for Allbutts System of Medicine. He was a man of fine presence, if a trifle awe-inspiring to students. He enjoyed country pursuits, particularly riding and shooting, and, on inheriting his fathers estate in 1872, seriously considered abandoning his profession in favour of a country life. Village cricket and the London Skating Club were among his other interests. He married in 1875 Sybil Constance, daughter of C J Bigge of Linden, Northumberland, and had two sons and a daughter. When he died at Hatfield in 1928, he was Senior Fellow on the College List.
G H Brown "

Lancet, 1928; British Medical Journal,1928; St Barts Hospital Reports,1929,lxii,1; Dictionary of National Biography,1922-30, p.185; Al. Oxon,i,251.

Cf. "Minutes of Evidence taken before the Royal Commission appointed to consider and report upon the care and treatment of the sick and wounded during the South African Campaign" (London: 1901) pp.512-536

#21526$2,500.00
 
 
[CIVIL WAR, Siege of Charleston Harbor]

Small archive of manuscript documents by Commanders of the Southern Atlantic Blockading Squandron S. F. Dupont and J. A. Dahlgren relating to the Union blockade and the first and second Battles of Charleston Harbor

Off Charleston or Morris Island: July 1863 - February 1864.

The archive is comprised of the following six manuscript documents, housed together in a modern blue morocco backed box:

1) Samuel Francis DUPONT. Manuscript document signed, headed "Order of Battle and Plan of Attack upon Charleston SC." "Off Charleston", 5 April 1863. 3pp. on 3 sheets tall 4to paper. "...The ships will open fire on Fort Sumter when within easy range, and will take up a position to the Northward and Westward of that fortification engaging its left or northwest face at a distance of from 600 to 800 yards firing low and aiming at the centre embrasure. The Commanding Officers will instruct their Officers and men to carefully avoid wasting a shot, and will enjoin them the necessity of precision rather than rapidity of fire ..."

2) John Adolphus DAHLGREN. Manuscript letter signed, to his senior officers, concerning Confederate Ironsides, written during the Battles of Fort Wagner. Aboard the Flag steamer Dinsmore, off Morris Island, 15 July 1863. 1p., single sheet of 4to ruled paper. "As the Ironsides is now within the Bar, renewed vigilance will be required to observe any attempt of the enemy's Iron Clads to pass out and attack the wooden vessels. If such should occur, the vessel which observes it will show three rockets in rapid succession ... One of the Monitors held in readiness for such an emergency will be towed out at once to engage ..."

3) John Adolphus DAHLGREN. Manuscript document signed, orders concerning the Confederate steamer the Sumter. Aboard the Flag steamer Dinsmore, 21 July 1863. 1p., single sheet of 4to ruled paper. "... the Confederate Stmr. Sumter is announced as having started from Liverpool on the 4th inst. for Nassau. This vessel has on board some very heavy ordnance probably for Fort Sumter ... There are therefore additional reasons for the capture of this vessel and no effort should be spared to this end ..."

4) John Adolphus DAHLGREN. Manuscript document signed, orders detailing the plan of Battle for the Second Battle of Charleston Harbor. Aboard the Flag Steamer Dinsmore, Off Morris Island, 14 August 1863. 2pp., folded sheet of tall 4to blue paper. "A joint operation has been agreed on by General Gillmore and myself which it is expected will commence to-day..."

5) John Adolphus DAHLGREN. Manuscript document signed, ordering a detachment of Marines on board the South Carolina. Flag Steamer Philadelphia off Morris Island, 5 February 1864. 1 p., single quarto sheet ruled paper.

6) John Adolphus DAHLGREN. Autograph letter signed, to an unnamed recipient but evidently a member of his senior staff, concerning Lieutenant Commander T. H. Eastman. On board the Philadelphia, 5 February 1864. 2pp., folded 8vo sheet.

Incredible Civil War archive relating to the first and second Battles of Charleston Harbor.

Charleston Harbor, the site of Fort Sumter and the first shots of the Civil War, held great symbolic importance to both the Union and Confederacy. Following their disastrous loss to Robert E. Lee's Confederate army at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May of 1863, Union leaders pressed for a naval attempt on taking the Confederate-held harbor in an attempt to bolster the war cause. The Commander of the Southern Atlantic Blockading Squandron S. F. DuPont was opposed to the idea, as he felt a naval attack could not succeed without ground support, which was unavailable and already stretched thin across much of Virginia. However, with several new Union Ironclads ready to launch, DuPont was ordered to attack.

Included in this archive is Dupont's orders detailing the plan and order of attack, written two days before the first Battle of Charleston Harbor. In his plan of attack, nine Union Ironclads would proceed past Morris Island, absorbing but not returning fire from the Confederate batteries there, to within 600 to 800 yards of Fort Sumter. Precise shots from the Ironclads aiming low at the center embrasure would reduce the fort. Weather delayed the attack, which began in the afternoon of April 7. The Ironclads, though largely impenetrable to shot from Morris Island or Charleston, were slow and difficult to maneuver. The lead ship, the USS Weehawken fouled on grappling hooks from a torpedo raft, the USS New Ironsides drifted and nearly grounded and the ferocity of Confederate bombardment kept the Union ships well away from Fort Sumter. The attack failed miserably and the Union Ironclads were forced to retreat. Although casualties were light, the USS Keokuk, whose experimental armor made from a base of alternating iron bars and planks of wood would prove too light for the heavy barrage, would sink in shallow water off Morris Island.

Blame for the loss fell squarely on the shoulders of Dupont and he was removed from command and replaced with J. A. Dahlgren. In July of 1863, the second Battle of Fort Wagner (made famous by the charge of the 54th Massachusetts) would besiege the beach head fortification on nearby Morris Island. The present archive includes three important documents signed by Dahlgren concerning the naval involvement in that important battle, including the order of battle for the Union squandron's second attempt on Fort Sumter. Although successful in laying much of the fort to rubble, Charleston and Fort Sumter would remain in Confederate hands until Sherman's army marched through South Carolina in 1865.

Cf. Stephen R. Wise, The Gate of Hell: Campaign for Charleston Harbor, 1863, (Columbia, S.C.: 1994).

#26643$8,500.00
 
 
ETHIOPIC MANUSCRIPT

Manuscript in Ge-ez script on vellum

Late 19th century or early 20th century. Quarto in 10s and 12s. 192 vellum leaves: comprised of 2 blank leaves, 3 leaves with later drawings on one side only, 1 leaf with later drawing on recto and 9 lines of red and black text on verso, 180 leaves of text in red and black (20 lines per page, 18 pages with polychrome headpieces), 2 leaves with later text in black only, 4 blank leaves. Red goatskin over wooden boards, elaborately panelled in blind, the panels composed from fillets and decorative rolls with occasional roundels, all surrounding a central panel tooled in blind with a Christian cross made up from fillets, decorative rolls and various small tools, the flat spine divided into three compartments with fillets in blind, the compartments similarly decorated with crossed fillets and roundels, red morocco doublures, elaborately tooled in blind, with small central approximately rectangular panel of dark blue velvet, within a red morocco inner slipcase with integral flaps, the exterior elaborately tooled in blind with tools that were also employed on the binding, and attached by straps to an outer carrying case of red morocco, this case with some stitched decoration but also tooled in blind with tools that were employed on the binding. Provenance: Unidentified ink-stamp on final page of regular text.

A beautiful and venerated object, and a reminder of an age before printing.

Unlike most books, the signs of wear on this bound manuscript are signs of care rather than neglect. It is is usually spurious to talk of the patina of a book, but the tears, scuffs and careful amateur repairs to the exterior carrying case, the darkened area at one end of the inner slipcase and small worm smooth patch of board that is visible on the upper cover of the binding, these are all signs of a work that is esteemed, like the shining brass toe of a statue of a revered saint. The main body of the text appears to be in a single hand, in red and black ink, with occasional abstract headpieces in three or four colours.

#24065$3,000.00
 
 
HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY - John McLEOD (1788-1849)

Autograph letter signed to The Governor Chief Factors & Chief Traders Northern Department

Norway House [Nelson River, Manitoba, Canada]: 5 January 1830. 2pp. Legal folio. Provenance: Charles de Volpy ('C.de V.' ink collector's stamp, sale: R. Maresch & Son, 26 May 1982, lot 22).

Hudson's Bay Company factor's detailed description of the fur trapping trade in northwestern Canada.

John MacLeod was an important figure in the early development of the Hudson's Bay Company in the Canadian Northwest. He was chief factor at Norway House in central Manitoba, a key central location between Hudson's Bay and Lake Winnipeg. In this interesting letter he discusses arrangement for the next trapping season in northern Manitoba:

"The Periodical packets from York Factory and Red River having again met here affords me an opportunity of addressing you a few lines respecting the men intended for Portage Laloche next spring ... there are no steersmen wintering and but very few middlemen, Isham who used to go in the capacity of a Steersman is Lame, and as for the Indians hired for that trip last Summer, one of them is wintering in MacKenzie's River, another is at Moose Lake, and a third says he will not go again in consequence of ill treatment he received from some of the men of that Brigade last summer particularly from one Laverdure ... The men wintering here are as follows, 2 Canadian voyagers, 2 orkey men, The Carpenter, Blacksmith, and summer men. The men sent to winter here having arrived so late on the Season, I had to keep all hands Collecting Boats timbers until the Ground was frozen. I however trust the six boats I am directed to get Built here will be Completed by the opening of the navigation. Our Fall fishery was not so productive as usual owing partly to the ice having set in 20 days earlier than I have seen since I came to Norway House. So we must again have recourse to the little winipic. Having the most of the wood required for 6 Boats to haul from 2, 3 & 4 miles Distance I am under the necessity of Keeping a few Dogs about the place for that purpose. As to the trade I have no reason to think it will be less than usual, the period when the Indians at a Distance used to come in has not yet arrived, Some of them are wintering at the Grand Rapit and Moose Lake. Our Stock of provisions now in hand is as follows, viz 90 Large Bags of Pemican, 17 Small [bags], 41 Bags Greas, 12 Kegs flour. I have only to [add] that a few Canoe Cedar timbers and Splinters will be required as in Spring."

See the lengthy biography on McLeod in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.

#23941$2,750.00
 
 
HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY - Alexander STEWART (c.1780-1840)

Autograph letter signed to "The Governor Chief Factors & Chief Traders Northern Department'

Fort Chipewyan [Athabasca, Alberta, Canada]: 28 December 1827. 5 1/2 pp., legal folio (12 1/2 x 7 7/8 inches). Dampstained, tears at folds, two bifolium, with docket panel on verso of final page "Fort Chipewyan 28th Decr. '27 / Alex Stewart". Provenance: Charles de Volpy ('C.de V.' ink collector's stamp, sale: R. Maresch & Son, 26 May 1982, lot 21).

Long and detailed manuscript account of Hudson's Bay Company fur trading in the wilds of Canada.

Alexander Stewart, the chief Hudson's Bay Company factor at Fort Chipewyan (present-day Athabasca) here writes a detailed and fascinating "account of the Company's Affairs in this District," in 1827.The Fort, just north of present-day Edmondton, was the main jumping-off point for trapping expeditions into what is now northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories, especially the area around the Great Slave Lake.This was new country for the trappers. Sir John Franklin's second expedition had explored the country in 1825-27, with the help of the HBC, and particularly Peter Dease. In this letter Stewart describes the situation at the end of 1827, noting that they might have lost important ship-board supplies for trading with Native Canadians "had not Mr. C.[hief] t.[rader] Simon McGillivray ... by his judicious management ultimately succeed in getting them here in due time. La Londe the conductor of the craft for this District, I look upon as no longer fit for that duty, having no more command of the men than a common steersman ... I, with the able assistance of Mr. P. W. Dease, whom I found here waiting with the remainder of the Mackenzie's River outfit, made various arrangements and settlements with the Indians ... Both Peace River and Great Slave Lake (in present-day Northwest Territories) outfits with their people left this on the 5th and 6th."

Stewart goes on to mention that he had difficulty distributing goods to the natives, as they came in greater numbers than expected, and describes a disease ("chin-cough," i.e. whooping-cough) that has affected the families. He further mentions that non-importation of liquor has not been a problem and continues: "The natives of Fort Chipewyan and Great Slave Lake have been as obedient as could be expected to our orders not to destroy the beaver during the summer season ... The Beaver Indians being more destitute and more in the habit of making their hunt by the Gun ... I have taken the liberty to forward herewith to Mr. C.F. McTavish the requisition for outfit 1828 ... I mean to send off three boats, which I have no doubt contain all the packs that may be made at this place and Seal River ... There are in the district including 4 interpreters 45 men - To take out 3 boats - 21 men / Two loaded canoes - 9 men / Messrs. Smith & Stewarts Canoe - 6 men: 36 men - 9 men left. / Required for summer establishment: Great Slave Lake - 3 men, incl. interpreter / Fort Chipewyan - 3 / Fort Vermilion - 3 / Dunvegon - 3...showing a deficiency of 4...We must recourse to the hiring, if possible, [of] some of our half-breeds or free-men in order to get our returns."

Alexander Stewart had originally worked for the North West Company, rising from apprentice (in 1796) to partner (in 1813). At the time of the merger of the North West Company with the Hudson's Bay Company he was based at Little Slave Lake. Stewart was appointed one of the Chief Factor's in the newly merged company, initially based at Fort William (1821-23) and Island Lake (1823-26) before taking over at Fort Chipewyan, where he remained until 1830. He took a furlough in 1830-31, but suffered health problems which led to his retirement in 1833. Peter Warren Dease (1788-1863), whose help Stewart praises in the present letter, would become a chief factor in his own right in the following year. Dease had earlier assisted Franklin during his second expedition in 1825-26, and he went on to gain renown as an Arctic explorer in his own right. In 1836-39, with Thomas Simpson, Dease commanded an expedition which explored the Arctic coast from the mouth of the Mackenzie River to Point Barrow.

#23940$6,750.00
 
 
HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY - Donald ROSS (1797-1852)

Autograph letter signed by Hudson Bay Company factor Donald Ross to the Chief Factor of the Company John Stuart, describing the season's trade and commenting on the Oregon boundary dispute

"Norway House" [Nelson River, Manitoba, Canada]: 12 August 1844. 3pp, plus integral address leaf. Folded sheet. (Short separations at folds, hole from opening costing a few words).

Strong content letter between Hudson Bay Company factors on the fur trade and the Oregon Question.

Ross writes: "...Our furs, I am happy to see, sold well last winter, with the exception of Beaver, and the quantity sent home was by no means small, yet somehow or other, we cannot manage to make profit nowadays, tho' the trade was never carried on in this country with so little expense; there must be a peg loose somewhere, that is a clear case, but I shall not pretend to say where the leakage is. The trade of this Department for the last outfit is certainly very good ... and as we are now again to hunt beaver without restraint, I expect the current year will produce something even better than the last ... The Columbia too has given large return for the last outfit but its expenses, I fear, will swallow all up, and probably more; our affairs in that quarter, I expect are in a very critical state. The Americans are pouring across the mountains by thousands, and if the Oregon question be not speedily settled, some serious mischief will assuredly arise before long. These grasping Republicans it appears insist on the line of 49 to the sea; if they get that, it will be better to give them the whole, the rest will be of little value to England and will rather be a source of trouble and annoyance than of real benefit to the nation; they have no just claim whatever to any portion of the territory, but John Bull, good honest soul as he is, terrible when his anger is up, allows himself to be cheated and gulled by every body who can manage to blurry and tickle him into good humour. For my own part, I sincerely wish we were well rid of the whole concern, for I strongly fear we shall then suffer the heaviest blow that ever fell on the fur trade..."

For much of the first half of the 19th century, Great Britain and the United States had jointly occupied the fur rich Oregon country (known as the Columbia District to the HBC), the northwest coast region west of the continental divide, north of the Columbia River to the 54th parallel. By 1844, however, with America's vision of manifest destiny in full swing, the U.S. laid claim to the region, launching the Fifty-four Forty or Fight campaign. Particularly debated was the area north of the Columbia but south of the 49th parallel (i.e. much of present day Washington State). Ross here argues that if that area were ceded, then the entire region to the 54th parallel might as well be foresaken. Two years later, the Oregon Treaty was signed, setting the boundary between the U.S. and Canada as the 49th parallel.

#23975$2,500.00
 
 
[TOBACCO] - Gavin HAMILTON (1717-1800)

[Manuscript ledger of the accounts of one of the earliest Philadelphia tobacco and snuff manufacturers]

Philadelphia: July 1775 - May 1776 [with later additions into the 1830s]. Folio (14 7/8 x 9 1/2 inches). Approximately 90pp. (with additional unrelated pages accomplished by another at a later date). 19th century printed trade card mounted on the front pastedown [see below]. Contemporary reverse calf, rebacked at an early date.

An incredible 18th century manuscript financial record of among the earliest American snuff manufacturers.

As early as the mid-1760s, Gavin Hamilton operated a warehouse for tobacco received from Virginia and awaiting export to Europe. In 1765, Hamilton brought his cousin and fellow Scotsman Thomas Leiper into the business. Together, seeing financial advantages to the domestic manufacture of tobacco products over the exportation of crude leaves, they began manufacturing snuff at a location on Second Street above Market, moving to a location on the northeast corner of Water and Spruce in February 1775. Before the American Revolution, Hamilton and Leiper's manufactury was one of only two snuff mills in the entire country; by 1790 at least 20 different snuff or tobacco manufacturers were located in Philadelphia alone. The present ledger covers their business principally between July 1775 and May 1776.

The outbreak of the war and the British occupation of Philadelphia no doubt put a temporary halt to their sales, but Hamilton and Leiper resumed manufacturing after the war. The two operated in partnership until 1785, when they divided the business so that both could bring their own sons into partnership [see p. 71 of this ledger for a listing of the joint property being divided]. At about this time, Hamilton opened a snuff manufactury on Cobb's Creek, which operated until 1826. In 1791 Alexander Hamilton (no relation to Gavin Hamilton) singled out snuff as a luxury that should be taxed as part of his famed Report on Manufactures and in 1794 when Congress passed the first excise tax on tobacco, the two leading opponents were Gavin Hamilton and Leiper, petitioning Congress in May of that year.

In 1800, Gavin Hamilton Sr. died, but the business was continued by his son Gavin Hamilton, Jr. Sometime after 1814, Hamilton Jr. operated a manufactury and shop on Market Street, confirmed by the trade card mounted on the front pastedown of this ledger [see below]. Hamilton Jr. seems to have continued his father's business unil his death in 1831. Not as successful a businessman as his father, Hamilton Jr. died in debt and his house, farm and possessions, including this journal, passed to Jacob Hoffman, who following p. 75 has used the ledger as his own account book.

The present ledger lists sales of snuff, by bottle or cask, as well as plug tobacco, cut tobacco and other associated items, such as rolling paper and pipes. Numerous purchasers are named and would seem to include both merchants, as well as individuals. The ledger, whose leaves are numbered, begins on 12 July 1775 (with the first 20 leaves of the journal lacking or defective); the ledger account continues, with entries every few days, through May 1776 (with four leaves lacking between October 23 and November 25). Following the entry for 29 May 1776, is a two-page listing of various items jointly owned by Hamilton and Leiper, with the note: "The above is a true coppy of the invoices & minutes taken at the Dissolving of the Partnership and Entred this 3d day of October 1785."

The trade card for Gavin Hamilton Jr. mounted on the front pastedown dates to circa 1820. The address given, 122 Market Street, was occupied by printer and publisher Matthew Carey until 1814 (when he moved to Chestnut Street) providing an earliest possible date for the card of 1815. The Commercial Directory, published in 1823, places Hamilton at that address and the named printer of the trade card, Lafourcade, was active between 1810 and 1830, all suggesting the dating of the trade card to circa 1820.

Account books for any American manufacturer before the American Revolution are rare, but the present ledger for a snuff manufacturer from this very early period is possibly unique and worthy of further study.

On Hamilton and Leiper's role in protesting the federal excise tax, see Roland M. Baumann,"Philadelphia's Manufacturers and the Excise Taxes of 1794: The Forging of the Jeffersonian Coalition" in Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Volume 106, Number 1 (January 1, 1982) , pp3-39).

#26558$12,500.00
 
 
TOWNE, Henry

"Thoughts at Sea" Sailor's Journal on Board the Brig "Eagle" Off the Coast of South America

Contemporary pencil sketch of brig on front pastedown. Quarto. Original vellum, spine cracked, with cellophane tape repair. Vellum scuffed, soiled, and worn. Edges of several leaves worn, slightly affecting text. Overall very good.

A seaman's interesting manuscript shipboard daily religious devotional, entering one scriptural passage for each day, with frequent reflection and commentary. The writer appears to have been a seaman named Henry Towne, whose name is twice found inscribed and crossed out among various numerical inscriptions (apparently latitudes and calculations of distance) on the rear pastedown, together with a place inscription of "Boston, Charlestown, Masstts." On the front pastedown is a contemporary pencil sketch of brig with a pencil caption reading, "Brig Eagle [/] Tender to Bark Richard [/] Coast Patigonia [/] Falkland Islands 1837 & 8." At the conclusion of the devotional is a brief postscript: "Have just been supplied with Beef, and Bread, by a vessel. both of which we were nearly destitute & what reason for gratitude. 16th Jan at Sea." A most interesting maritime artifact.

#21074$750.00
 
 
TREASURY Department, U.S. - John LAUB (Acting Comptroller)

Circular to Collectors, Naval Officers, and Surveyors [caption title]

[Washington, D.C.]: Treasury Department, Comptroller's Office, March 25, 1836. Quarto (9 3/4 x 8 inches). 2pp. letterpress 'letter,' with autograph manuscript signature at the end. Disbound.

An interesting ephemeral item concerning duty payable (or not) on a wide variety of items, including Hudson's Bay Blankets

The body of the letter includes a listing of the way various items have been officially classified, and therefore what import duty is payable. For example 'Rosetts or Cockades, made of whale bone, and used as ornaments for harness bridles'; 'Soda Ash'; 'Cast Iron Wagon Boxes'; 'Dry Sal Soda'; 'Book of Gems, for 1836'; silk hats; piano wire; 'Gum Elastic Shoes'; and a lengthy description of exactly what constitutes a blanket - from the description given the letter describes what is now known as a Hudson's Bay Blanket.

#24994$450.00
 
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