?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500
WRITTEN 3 MONTHS BEFORE HIS DEATH AT 43 REED, JOSEPH. Autograph Letter Signed, "Jos: Reed," to Elbridge Gerry, expressing pleasure at the news of his agreeing to serve again in the Confederation Congress, stating that he can expect to approve of the outlooks of the other representatives, agreeing about the inadequacy of the candidate for the Treasury and proposing [his brother-in-law Charles] Petitt, anticipating that he himself would serve provided that the pay is sufficient, reporting that his own sister is ill, and sending regards to his colleagues and Mrs. [George?] Partridge. 2 pages, folio, written on the recto and verso of a single sheet; portion of address panel addressed in holograph to Gerry mounted to lower edge below signature, remnants of mounting along right edge verso affecting last word of each line, tissue repair to first page along horizontal fold, moderate scattered foxing, faint dampstain along one edge. Philadelphia, 9 December 1784
". . . Your Acceptance of a Seat in Congress was an unexpected Pleasure as I was informed you had utterly declined it. Indeed your long Service might have intitled you to claim some Indulgence, but it is the more generous in you to waive it, & your Experience now enables you to render more important Service. I was appointed without my Concurrence & with express Leave to consult my private Affairs which I must do to a considerate Degree if Congress remains at Trenton. But the Gentlemen in the Delegation conform so generally in Sentiment with each other & with those Interests which I particularly respect that I have the less Concern on that Head. You will find them Men of Principle & possessing Such Ideas of Government as I think you approve. I had heard of the Candidate for the Treasury & think with you a better may be found. "Mr. [Charles] Pettit's Talents lay in that Line & he is a Man of Principle. Take him in Temper[ance], Skill in Acc[oun]ts & real Integrity, I do not think he has many superiors in this Country. I do not know the Value of the Appointment but I believe I will accept it if the Scale is not too parsimonious. . . ."
