Lot 1073
Lee, Richard Henry (1732-1794), Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Virginia best known for his motion in the Second Continental Congress calling for the colonies' independence from Great Britain.
Letter signed, 1 page, Yorktowne [Va.], May 1778, in the hand of James Lovell, who has also signed; integral address leaf addressed, also in Lovell's hand, to "Honble John Langdon, Continental Agents, Portsmouth", with rare manuscript postmark, "Yorktown May 19th" at lower left;
"In hope that you have provided a Packet Boat agreeable to the Direction of the Marine Committee sent to you on the 5th Instant, we now forward to your Care important Dispatches for France, which you are requested to give in Charge to a trusty Captain, to deliver with his own Hand to our Commissioners at Paris. Your Wisdom will dictate pointed Orders for conveying the packets without Injury with Secrecy and the utmost Dispatch, but, for sinking them in Case the Vessel should be unfortunately taken."
a Fine, noteworthy letter.
Estimate $4,000 - 5,000
AN INTERESTING LETTER ATTESTING TO THE NEED FOR SECRECY WHEN SENDING DISPATCHES TO PARIS DURING THE WAR.
John Langdon, along with John Adams and Silas Deane, were the original members of the Marine Committee, later expanded to include members from each of the 13 colonies, including Lee and Lovell. On May 4, 1778 the Continental Congress discussed the Treaty of Alliance with France, which had been signed on February 6th in Paris by American and French officials; the dispatches referred to in this letter most likely reported the outcome of these discussions.
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| Realized $8,000 |
