Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia from Washington, Kentucky folded letter
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Covers & Associated Letters
Date: December 31, 1803
Place of Origin: Kentucky
Place of Destination: Virginia
Medium: paper; ink (black)
Dimensions: Height x Width (folded): 4 5/8 × 6 5/8 in. (11.75 × 16.83 cm)
Description: WAS*K* (Washington, Ky.) straight line postmark (scarce); manuscript "Paid 50"; to Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia. The rate is either for a double letter over 500 miles, or a quadruple letter from 90 to 150 miles, per the postal rate act of 1799; the actual distance is about 250 miles. This cover suggests that the complexity of the early tiered rate systems may have overwhelmed some postal clerks.
WASH. PAID
Jan'y 1. st 1807
paid 50.
Captain Phillip Slaughter
Gulpeper Court-house
Virginia
Mail 5
W. Phil. in to her his
lost the of
U. S. N. M.
10-25
2007.2004.22
WASH. PAID
Jan 4 1 st 1804 paid 50.
Captain Phillip Slaughter
Gulpeper Court-house
Virginia
Mail
U.S.N.M.
10-25
2007.2004.22
William Livingston of South Hackney, England being a long time Master in the U.S. Dist. Court has been honored for 9 years as of Jan
H. S. Taylor Col. 1803
Washington 31 st December 1803.
My Dear Sir
Your favor of the 16 th ultimo was handed to me about ten ago, by our friend W. D. Strother, who was too impatient to go in company with Captain Herring, to be prevailed on to stay more than one night with us. Your disinterested friendship to me, claims my gratitude, and you have it in the highest degree. I have at almost every part of my life, received benefits from my friends, with the misfortune of never having once had it in my power to render an important service to one of them.
I have just returned from Bourbon, where I procured the testimony of Col o George Slaughter, which I now inclose to you, and which, with the deposition of W. Coleman, that I imagine you already have, will I hope be deemed sufficient by the Governor & Council of Virginia. Should it not I shall despair of success. I have forwarded to W. Phil. Thompson (who had previously been written to by his brother John, and who had promised me his aid) a petition to Congress, for the pay due to W. Field in his lifetime and for the commutation due his orphan. My success I am afraid is doubtful, since Congress have hitherto rejected so many petitions for relief barred by the act of limitation, tho' I doubt their ever having been before presented with one, where the petitioner was an infant at the time that act took effect, which is the
present case, and to prove which I have forwarded testimony. In the petition I had added a prayer for the land-warrant that you have so kindly attempts attempted to procure, but shall immediately write to Mr. Thompson to expunge that part of it, and shall at the same time inclose to him Col. Slaughter's deposition, which is similar to the one I send you, and which I have also got duly certified.
I am thankful to you for having sold Moses to Mr. Banks, to whom he was willing to be sold, in preference to getting a higher price from one who would have treated him with severity: for I think the condition of that class of people much to be pitied, and that it is our duty to ameliorate it, instead of making it worse.
A short time before the receipt of your letter, I had received one from your brother, informing me that he would at any time pay to my order the 280 $ - and yesterday an acquaintance of mine was to have started to Bairdstown, who has promised to be the bearer of it.
You will pardon me for saying that I certainly had a right to expect that you would have indemnified yourself for the expenses you must necessarily have incurred on my account - and also that you would have retained the amount of the sums you expended in prosecuting my claim at Richmond - Those and your future expenses in that way, I must insist on your receiving, when I shall have the pleasure of seeing you at my house, which I hope will not be later than you have calculated on.
Our Legislature have just passed those resolutions received from the City of Washington by express, changing
the mode of electing the President and Vice-president, and I believe unanimously. We have as yet heard nothing from New Orleans, but hope that the Spanish government will not put us to the trouble of sending troops to visit them. You will gratify me extremely by dropping me a line by the mail, as soon as you shall have heard the fate of my claim at Richmond.
Accept, dear Sir, the grateful wishes of Mr. Taylor and myself for the happiness of yourself and Lady, and believe that I am, with the greatest respect & esteem, your friend Robt. Tenn.
Francis Taylor
Washington 31 st December 1803.
My Dear Sir
Your favor of the 18 th ultimo was handed to me about ten ago, by our friend W. D. Strother, who was too impatient to go in company with Captain Herring, to be prevailed on to stay more than one night with us. Your disinterested friendship to me, claims my gratitude, and you have it in the highest degree. I have at almost every part of my life, received benefits from my friends, with the misfortune of never having once had it in my power to render an important service to one of them.
I have just returned from Bourbon, where I procured the testimony of Col l George Slaughter, which I now inclose to you, and which, with the deposition of Mr. Coleman, that I imagine you already have, will I hope be deemed sufficient by the Governor & Council of Virginia. Should it not I shall despair of success. I have forwarded to Mr. Phil. Thompson (who had previously been written to by his brother John, and who had promised me his aid) a petition to Congress, for the pay due to Mr. Field in his lifetime and for the commutation due his orphan. My success I am afraid is doubtful, since Congress have hitherto rejected so many petitions for relief barred by the act of limitation, tho' I doubt their ever having been before presented with one, where the petitioner was an infant at the time that act took effect, which is the
W. D. Strother Oct 1 1803
Col l George Slaughter of Scott Co. Va. being a Virginia State in the War of 1763 has been paid for 9 mos 10 days of service
U.S.A.M. Virginia
Major General Ebenezer Dyer
Captain Philip Slaughter
Jan 4 th 1804
10-25