Description:

Aaron Burr Promises Martha Bradstreet He Will Fight for Her Land

BURR, AARON. Autograph Letter Signed, “A. Burr”, 1.5 pp., with integral address leaf, March 23, 1823, New York, letter laid open in a floating mount 12.5" x 7.875", matted and framed to an overall size of 22.125" x 13.75". Docket by Martha Bradstreet at verso, which is typical of the correspondence she received. Expected folds, minor toning, opening tear from wax seal, else near Fine.

Burr informs Bradstreet of his strategy to get her petition heard in the New York State Legislature. His letter, in full, “For various good causes, my embarkation is postponed until the next steam boat after tomorrow – that is, until Tuesday – so that I shall not be in Albany until Wednesday P.M. Now my greatest fear is that immediately after that vile report of A.G. you may in a rage have shaken the dust from off your feet & quit them – rather than submitting to the hazard & fatigue of dragging 80 miles through the mud than to remain one hour longer in such a Sodom where…righteous could not be found to save it. This prompt movement I should regret both on your account & my own – If the report be in fact founded on the absurd idea of the power of the Chancellor, I would in the first place endeavor to get someone to impose the folly of that opinion on the floor of the House as mentioned in my last, and then endeavor to get a resolution authorizing or requiring the Chancellor (on your Petition) to hear & determine the Controversy – this ought to be a joint Resolution – If this should fail, we will laugh at them and prepare a memorial to the next Legislature exposing the folly of their predecessors & c. The Dr. won’t give up yet, he swears the thing ought to work & shall work and encourages himself with the belief that the failure is owing to some slight error in the mechanism – not I – my imagination is quite in repose & the result has afforded me a great deal of amusement – at my own expense. / You see my dear friend how little reliance is to be placed on the most plausible theories either in Philosophy or Legislation - / All were well here at Greenwich yesterday afternoon”.

Aaron Burr, Jr. (1756-1836) was a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War and the third vice president of the United States, serving during President Thomas Jefferson's first term (1801-1805).  In 1804, in the final year of his vice presidency, Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in an infamous illegal duel.  Although all charges against Burr were dropped, his political career ended. Burr was a successful lawyer, and one of his more colorful clients was Martha Bradstreet (1780-1860).  Bradstreet was born in Ireland, but spent most of her life in America trying to gain ownership of thousands of acres of land, known as Cosby's Manor, in Utica, New York.  She worked with many early notables, including Philip Schuyler and Daniel Webster.  Her great grandfather was was British General John Bradstreet.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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