The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-04-09
A NENEyTO or WASHINGTON.
The varied History Of a Letter He "ro''
TO the Mayor in 1873.
fNaw York Wnrlh.I

8
tennial celebration, and il ought To be
matter of satisfaction to the citizeDs I'll
/ New York 10 know that the city mas on
/ file a pleasant letter from the ola kevo-
+ lutionary hero accepting with graf
itude tho honor conferred on MN
In 1875 when he was given the
/ freedom Of the city Bat the yicissiiudes
| Of this valuable document are interesting
in themselves Like the twenty medal,
from the Pope and hundreds OF valuable
napers. letters and books of historic IN
teresi. tn autograph letter OF Washing
ton WAS stolen from the library AT Guy
/ Hall and turned up later in the'posses-
sion Of private parties. The following
record of the varied experience of the
letter was found filed away among the
papers of the late A. 7. stewart when
+ the executors were making an inventory
/ OF the millionaire merchants estate
"The history OF this valuable auto
graph letter is somewhat remarkable
/ II appears from the papers in the sum
/ that upon the 2d day of May, 1875, the
/ Common Council received from General
/ Washington a letter in answer to the al
dress OF the Corporation of New YORK
comforting upon him the freedom OF the
city. I'm May, 1864. a sale of the pr 'periy
OF the late John Allen, of this city, was
advertised, and in the catalogue there
appeared the following announcement
Sab. Neutrality-suspicious. W ash
ingtOn's answer TO the address OF the
corporation of New York comforting
upon him the freedom Of the city, dated
May ,. 1885
This interesting letter occupies two
I folio pages. and rs entirely in the hand
WI ting of the immortal Washington.
Read in common council. May ,, 1888.
( one of the most important autograph
documents ever sold in this country
"After a spirited competition nc letter
was knocked down 60 De Witt c. Lent
for the sum of s20j0 The city suthori-
ties becoming apprsed OF this proceed
Ing ~ once commenced suit 10 recover
possession OF the letter. The cause was
tried before Judge Foster aud jury on
the 18th of February, 1885 The clerk OF
the Common Council produced the
minutes OF that body acknowledging the
receipt Of the letter and ordering II to be
printed. and Mr. Lent testified 10 having
bought the letter at the auction for
81 $50
Upon the part OF the defense it was
shown that the letter was in Mi Allan +
possession for thirty years ltiore his
death, and IL was argued that If he re-
ceiyed it rs owner, and was owner OF II
al the time, the city could not recover,
and that even II he obtained IL impr p
erly and with the intent wrongfully 10
convert II 10 his own use. the city could
not recover, because the suit was barred
hy the statute of limitations The jury
found verdict for the city, assessing the
damages for detention at six cents and
and the value OF the letter at $1,000.
subsequently the exceptions taken on
the trial were heard before the General
Term and overruled and the judgment
Of the court below in all things sustain
cl A further appeal was 10 the Court
OF Appeals, but was dismissed last
month, on motion OF the Corporation
for want of prosecution. Mr O'Gorman.
the Counsel 10 the Corporation, finally
had the satisfaction OF delivering the
celebrated letter into the hands of the
Mayor. and tho COmmonalty was once
more put in possession OF It's louglo
property. We append g copy of the
letter
Ia he Hou5h The Mlyor. Roeorjer.
3 Ahermen. and C0mm0u9liy ~ he
city or Aeo Y0ik.
'GESrLEMEN,-l receive your adj
dress, and the freedom of the City, with
which You have been pleased Ca present
me in a Golden Box, with The sensibility
aad Gratitude, which such Distinguished
honors have Claim 10. The hauerlng
expression Of Both stamps value on the
Acts, aud call for Stronger language
/ than | am master OF, 10 convey my sense
of the obligation in adequate terms
ITO have had the good fortune,
amidst the yicissitudes Of q long and
ardu0us contest "neyet to bayo known
% moment when did not possess the
Confidence and Esteem Of my Country"
and that my conduct should have met
the appreciation and obtained the aiiec-
tomato reward OF the State Of New York
where difficulties were numerous and
cOmplicated) may be a-cribed more
q the effect of divine wisdom
which had Disposed the minds Of the
p Op!e, harrassed On all sides, 10 make
allowances far the embarrassments of
mv situation. whilst with f0rtitude and
patience they sustained the loss OF their
Capitol, and valuable part OF their Ter.
ritOry, and 10 the liberal sentiments, and
great exertiOn of her yirtuous Citizens.
than TO any merit Of mine
1.-The reflection OF these things now.
after the many hours OF anxious solici.
tude which all Of rs have had IS az
pleasing. 40 our endorsements Al the
moment We encountered them we're dis
iressing, and must console IA fOf past
suiTcrings and perplexties
81 pray that Heaven may bestOw It's
Choicest blessings on your City-that
Devastation OF war IN which you found
10 may soon DO without trace that
merce may enrich all your Cti-
lens, and that your State lat
present the seat of Empirel /
may SET such examples of wisdom |
and liberality a shall have a tendency /
10 strengthen and give permanency to /
the Union At home and credit and re- /
spectability 10 it abroad-the accom- 4
plishment wher~ is remaining wish, /
and the primary object Of all my Desires
TO WASHINGTON"
The above history of Washington's
letter was found, as already stated.
among A. T Stewards effects, but there
was one mote chapter 10 the story before
the letter reached its final resting
place. The litigation 90 recover
the letter began in the time OF
Mayor Hall, but Mayor Have
meyer had come into office before Corpo-
ration Counsel O'GOrman finally Sc.
cured possession OF the letter. II was
then turned over 10 Clerk Twomey, OF
the Common Council, for safe keeping
But knowing from experience that the
document might again be stolen he had
the following wise resolution passed
Resolred, That the Clerk of the Com
mon Council be, aud is hereby, directed
10 deposit with the New York Hstori-
cal Society the Autograph letter OF Gen.