Jun 25, 2024 - Sale 2674

Sale 2674 - Lot 64

Price Realized: $ 1,375
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 2,000 - $ 3,000
SIGNER: "I WANT MUCH TO SEE [MY GRANDSON] LITTLE GEORGE WASHINGTON" MORRIS, LEWIS. Autograph Letter Signed, to his son [Lewis Morris IV], encouraging him to bring his family for a visit, discussing news of other family members, mentioning that he is training a racehorse, complaining of widespread business failures due to excessive speculation, and wondering about the effect of recent French military victories. 1¾ pages, folio; chipping at lower edge (without loss to text), small hole from seal tear at left edge (without loss to text), short closed separations at horizontal folds repaired verso with tissue. "Morrisania," 30 March 1797
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". . . I was dejected as you say not a word of coming this season since which I have seen [John Baker Holroyd, Earl of] Sheffield and he says you told him you intended his next Trip to come and bring with you all of our family, this made me hope . . . and you cannot have a finer Ship nor a better Capt, tel[l] Nancy [wife of Lewis Morris IV, Ann Elliott] we never had better nor Sweeter Cyder or a greater quantity and we will endeavour to get all the good things of this country, in short you must come and Sally says if Nancy does not come this summer she shall be melancholy and much mortified, oh how I long to see the boy, bring them with you and put them at Flatbush as you said in a former Letter to me. I want much to see little George Washington [son of Lewis Morris IV]. I suppose the Gen'l was one of his Godfathers . . . . Staats [Morris, brother of Lewis Morris IV] has been very Ill at Phi[ladelphi]a, is come on to N[ew]York for his health . . . enjoying all the pleasures of that great city. Major [Richard Brooke] Roberts is dead and left Staats his Executor. . . . I had a letter the other day from Jacob [Morris, brother of Lewis Morris IV], he was well at Albany attending the Legislature, he is a clever fellow, I wish I would say as much for his wife. You say your sport was not so good as in former years. I was happy to hear that Sharke [racing horse] won with ease on his master's account, give my best respects to him and tel[l] I have begun to bit May Flower, by June or July I shall be able to try her speed and should she prove fast I make no doubt she will do honor to Morrisania on the Charleston Turf. The failures are not confined to your country, many have taken place here owing to the great thurst people have for Speculation.
"What will be the consequence of the french Victories God only knows. Some think it will bring about a speedy peace, others think it must prolong the war, which will be dreadful to us, however we are bound to see it out.
"Me thinks I see you going down to the Swamp . . . to prepare for planting. How comes on Mr. Hamilton [Paul Hamilton (1762-1816)?]; make my best respects to him, he is a most valuable neighbor to you. . . ."
In early February 1797, during the French Revolutionary Wars, the city of Mantua was captured by the armies led by Napoléon, followed soon after by his victory against the Habsburg Austrian army at the Battle of Valvasone on March 16.