Sale 260


Lot 76



"Honolulu Island of Oahu Hawaiian Islands, Sept. 19th 1847", dateline on well-written folded letter from Chief Justice William L. Lee to W.H. Davis, Davisville, Pa.: " Since Mr. Ricord's departure for California I have to act as the great luminary at law in this kingdom, though I am nothing more than a farthing candle. My labors and responsibilities are very heavy and I make every exertion to master the task," etc." Endorsed Per Ship 'Tiger'" this went around Cape Horn and entered U.S. mails at New Bedford, Mass. with red Mar. 13th c.d.s. and matching "Ship" handstamp and manuscript. "12", Very Fine. Over ten years, until his death in 1857 Chief Justice Lee wrote or rewrote much of Hawaiian law. His closest friend, Charles Reed Bishop (mentioned in the letter as sending "much love" to Davis) eventually married Pavahi, a granddaughter of Kamehameha, and founded the Bishop Estate, two Lee letters which relate to this one can be found in Vol. 2 of The Honolulu Advertiser Collection.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500

 
Realized $1,000



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