Description:

Gouverneur Morris
Paris, France, March 28, 1793
Gouverneur Morris ALS on Censorship of Letters In Revolutionary France
ALS

An autograph letter signed by Gouverneur Morris as Minister Plenipotentiary to France. 1p, measuring 7.25" x 9.25", Paris, dated March 28, 1793. Signed "Gouv Morris" and addressed to James Le Ray de Chaumont in London. Morris writes of his concern that the French government is censoring his missives to Le Ray in the midst of the French Revolution. With flattened mail folds, small separations and folds, and minor edge chipping. A larger area of paper loss at the left edge has been repaired with paper on the verso. Light, uneven toning and minor foxing. Large, bold signature.

Reading in full:
"I wrote to you on the twenty fifth and am without your favors. The Communication is I am told cut off by the Commissioners of the Assembly sent into the Department. Under these circumstances it is needless to write anything particular."

Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816), no relation to Robert Morris, was a signer of the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution and wrote the Preamble to the United States Constitution. Morris went to France on business in 1789 and served as Minister Plenipotentiary to France from 1792 to 1794. His diaries during that time have become a valuable chronicle of the French Revolution and capture much of that era's turbulence and violence. Morris was the only foreign representative who remained in his post throughout the worst days of the Terror, and on more than one occasion found himself in dangerous situations.

James Le Ray de Chaumont (1760-1840) was a farmer and land investor who befriended and hosted Benjamin Franklin during the latter's service as Minister Plenipotentiary to France. As tensions began to rise during the French Revolution, Le Ray escaped to the United States, married a rich American heiress and made a large purchase of land in New York with Morris. The extensive landholdings he acquired included two Jefferson County towns named for him, Leraysville (later Leray) and Chaumont. Le Ray de Chaumont divided his time thereafter between the United States and France. He became the first president of the Jefferson County Agricultural Society and was elected president of the New York State Agricultural Society.

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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  • Dimensions: 7.25" x 9.25"
  • Medium: ALS

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