Beschreibung:

Autograph Letter Signed ("Grover Cleveland") as President, 6 pp recto and verso, 4to (conjoining leaves), Washington, DC, May 23, 1887, to John C. Black, Commissioner of Pensions, on Executive Mansion letterhead, regarding a pension for Thomas S. Hopkins, leaves creased and with mild to moderate toning, otherwise fine. A lengthy Presidential letter written on behalf of a Civil War applicant seeking back pay for his pension. Cleveland turns a clear legal eye on the relevant statues, explaining to Commissioner Black how Hopkins has missed the deadline for pension application: "In my opinion, as matter of law, if you find that Mr. Hopkins was insane from March 3d 1879 to July 1, 1880, so that he was prevented from making his application between these dates you have the rifght to examine his claim on its merits through it was not filed until Nov 1880." Provenance: Forbes Collection Part Six (May 22, 2007), lot 97. See illustration.