Oct 22, 2015 - Sale 2394

Sale 2394 - Lot 4

Price Realized: $ 1,500
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 2,000
"THE COMMANDER OF SAN MIGUEL . . . ACCEPTS BRIBES" BOLÍVAR, SIMÓN. Letter Signed, "Bolivar," as President of Venezuela, to the Governor and Commander General of Guyana, in Spanish, sending a letter describing corruption charges against the commander of San Miguel [not present], and ordering an investigation into the matter. 1 1/2 pages, folio, written on the recto and verso of a single sheet; faint scattered staining, minor scattered worming (not affecting text), horizontal fold. "Military Headquarters at Angostura," 18 December 1817

Additional Details

"Thanks to the report of the Intendant of this Province, which referred to the remarks of Mr Sheppard, captain of the brig Never Despair, I have learned that the commander of San Miguel is not only remiss and negligent in following the orders issued to him but that to carry them out he demands or accepts bribes which are dishonest and degrading for an official of the Republic. Such conduct, besides being criminal on the part of the accused, brings shame on the Government and ruins our reputation among foreigners, who . . . suffer delays and inconveniences, and see the contracts they have made with the State scorned or neglected.
"Since without other proof than the attached letter, we cannot take action against the commander who was in San Miguel on the 6th of this month, Your Honor must take the greatest interest in examining the truth of the event it describes . . . ."