Description:

Welles Gideon

Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, Declines Recommending NY Harbormaster

 

1p ALS inscribed overall and signed by Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles (1802-1878) as "Gideon Welles" at bottom right. Written in Washington, D.C. on January 2, 1869. The plain cream stationery paper has some well-worn or slightly torn paper folds, else near fine. The page measures 5" x 8." From the Collection of Norman Boas of Seaport Autographs and recently purchased at Christie's December 5, 2017 sale.

 

Susan Anna Friend, the wife of a New York Democratic Party officer-seeker, wrote this letter to Secretary of the Navy Welles petitioning him to recommend her husband for the position of New York Harbormaster. Welles' reply was courteous but decisively in the negative:

 

"Dear Madame

 

I have your letter of the 25 ultimo, and, though it would give me pleasure to render you a service, I should feel reluctant, under any circumstances to apply to any state official, or in any [way interfere with his local appointments. [If Hon Gov Hoffman [were to apply to me in regard to your husband, I should willingly testify my appreciation of his abilities.

 

Very respectfully,

Gideon Welles."

 

The intrepid Mrs. Friend took Secretary of the Navy Welles' advice and promptly wrote a letter to New York Governor John T. Hoffman (1828-1888). Mrs. Friend had enclosed Welles' reply in Hoffman's letter, writing: "I wrote a short time since to Secretary Welles, asking him to say a word in behalf of his old friend and the warm personal friend of the Doctors [sic father. I enclose to you his reply. I can now understand his hesitating in involving himself in a matter between one of your own constituents and yourself. I did not think so far or I should not have ventured to address him."


Gideon Welles, or "Neptune", as Abraham Lincoln affectionately dubbed him, served as Secretary of the Navy during the entire duration of the Civil War and into the Johnson administration. In the Lincoln cabinet, Welles focused on reorganizing a naval service riddled with Confederate defections, and mobilizing recruits, vessels, and supplies. Throughout the war, Welles and his navy blockaded Southern ports, weakening an economy already overly dependent on cotton exports. Welles would serve only two more months at his post; he retired from the secretaryship in early May 1869.


It is not known whether Governor Hoffman pulled some strings for Susan Anna Friend's husband, Dr. Friend. Governor Hoffman would soon face troubles of his own. He was the last Mayor of New York City to be elected Governor of New York state, probably in part because of his connection to the Tammany Hall machine operated by William "Boss" Tweed.

 

Provenance: Ex-Christie's December 5, 2017 sale; Ex-Norman Boas, Seaport Autographs

 

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

We do our own in-house worldwide shipping!
Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. ***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR SHIPMENT TO BE SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE ON FILE WITH INVALUABLE, YOU WILL NEED TO INFORM US OF THIS AS SOON AS PAYMENT IS SUBMITTED FOR YOUR WINNINGS*** Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000