Sales catalogue 525: Maggs Bros

Date:
1929
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/13/80
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 525: Maggs Bros. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    260/276 page 226
    To PAUL JONES, THE FOUNDER OF THE AMERICAN NAVY. States. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED TO JOHN PAUL JONES. I page, 4to. Philadelphia, 22nd July, 1787. (SEE ILLUSTRATION, FRONTISPIECE). 3 £1,450 A most interesting letter of historical importance written by Washington to John Paul Jones, mentioning Lafayette, Rochambeau and Chastellux, and referring to the Convention summoned at Phila- delphia in May 1787, when he was chosen to preside. Delegates attended from every State but Rhode Island, and this famous assembly, which consisted of fifty-five delegates, thirty-nine of whom signed the Constitution, sat for nearly five months. The Constitution was adopted on 17th September, 1787, and Washington was the unanimous choice for President, being inaugurated at New York, 30th April, 1789. ‘“T avail myself of the liberty you have been so obliging as to give me, to trouble you with the care of the enclosed packet. It was my intention to have added to this trouble by encreasing the number of my letters, but business has prevented ; iet me pray therefore that you will do me the honor to present me in affectionate terms to the Marq: de la Fayette, and assure him, that though hurried, I should not have slipped so favourable an opportunity of writing to him, if the business of the convention (for I have nothing else new to offer him) could have been communicated in the present unfinished state of it. To the Count de Rochambeau, Marq: de Chastellux & others with whom I have the honor of a particular acquaintance, I tender my best regards.’’? Ete. John Paul Jones, to whom this letter is addressed, had served in the American Navy, and is famous for his victory over the ‘‘ Serapis ’’? when in command of the ‘‘ Bonhomme Richard.’’ At this time he was apparently returning to France, hence Washington’s message to Lafayette, who had fought in America, and who had been received in his own country with such applause as to confirm his devotion to the cause of liberty. Count de Rochambeau mentioned in the letter, led the first French troops which arrived in 1780 in aid of the American Army, and Marquis de Chastellux, one of his officers, became famous by his book, ‘ Voyage de M. le Chevalier de Chastellux en Amerique.’’
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3