Description:

Albert Gallatin 1814 Incredible ALS Re: Intelligence in France Plus More

GALLATIN, ALBERT. Autograph Letter Signed, “Albert Gallatin”, 2pp on bifold paper, 7” x 9”, Ghent, July 26, 1814. To William H. Crawford. Minor paper loss and some separation at flattened folds; tear at bottom edge; heavy show-through partially affecting text; scattered foxing. Rare.

Gallatin’s letter, in full, “I beg leave to introduce you to Mr. Irving who acted for Mr. Beasley during his absence from London. He is brother of Washington Irving the member of Congress from New York; and you will find him worthy of such attention as you may please to bestow on him.

I will thank you to press on Mr. Todd the necessity of leaving Paris and joining us here in order to return as soon as possible to the United States. Neither his finances nor the wishes of his friends permit his remaining any longer in Europe and particularly at Paris; and I feel some personal responsibility towards his mother and Mr. Madison in that respect.

We are still here without any account of the British Commissioners, and without news. Those by the British and French papers are one month later than our American Gazettes. If you have anything new in your quarter, please to communicate it.”

Gallatin adds a postscript, “Please remember me to General La Fayette.”

In January 1814, President James Madison agreed to begin negotiations to end the War of 1812, and he followed up by appointing five negotiators. The head of the negotiating team was John Quincy Adams; Albert Gallatin and Thomas Bayard were retained to assist him. Henry Clay and Jonathan Russell made up the rest of the team. Some of the American envoys, including Gallatin, arrived in Ghent in July 1814; the others followed soon after.

William H. Crawford (1772-1834) was sent to Paris as the new U.S. Ambassador to France. He was also responsible for superintending the American consuls in Europe and keeping them informed of developments. Moreover, he was an advisor to the President on the happenings in the Continent. As Ambassador to the Court of one of the two major adversaries in the conflicts in Europe, Crawford was also involved in the upcoming negotiation process, advising the negotiators, and responding to their confidential communications. He would later serve as Secretary of War and Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Madison and Monroe.

Peter Irving was the brother of Washington Irving and was Secretary to the U.S. Legation in London until the summer of 1814. John Payne Todd was the son of Dolley Madison and was adopted by her second husband, James Madison. Todd failed as a student, so Madison sent him to Europe as a delegate, under the tutelage of their reliable friend Gallatin, but he spent too much time drinking and accumulating debt and his return to the U.S. was requested.

Albert Gallatin (1761-1849) was a Genevan-American politician, diplomat, ethnologist, and linguist. He is known for being the founder of New York University and for serving in the Democratic-Republican Party at various federal elective and appointed positions across four decades. He represented Pennsylvania in the Senate and the House of Representatives before becoming the longest-tenured United States Secretary of the Treasury and serving as a high-ranking diplomat.

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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