DELANCEY, JAMES Autograph letter signed, addressed to Cadwallader Colden, Thomas Ellison, and Charles Clinton . New York, 6 October 1757. Single sheet, 11 3/4 x 14 1/2 inches (30 x 27 cm), folded to 2 leaves; paper with the Garter Arms watermark, c.f. Gravell 1399.1. The letter is twenty-nine lines, with the felicitation and signature on the reverse; the address is on the adjacent leaf. Some toning to paper, slight wear to folds, protected in a leather sleeve (now separated at spine), the document sealed in a plastic sleeve. A letter by James DeLancey during his final period of tenure as lieutenant-governor of New York, which began when Sir Charles Hardy stepped down in July 1757, and continued until DeLancey's death on July, 30, 1760. DeLancey was, in addition, the Chief Justice of New York, and had presided over the 1735 trial of John Peter Zenger on charges of sedition and libel, a seminal case in establishing the freedom of the press in America. When this letter was written, the French and Indian War was in its fourth year, and the disastrous Battle of Fort William Henry had been fought in August. Indian attacks in the Hudson Valley had become a matter of major concern. The letter is addressed to Cadwallader Colden (who would in turn become acting governor of New York upon DeLancey's death in 1760), Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Clinton, and Colonel Thomas Ellison, all of whom were at "New Winsor" (now New Windsor, New York). In it, DeLancey discusses in detail troop movements intended to suppress attacks by the Indians, mostly in the vicinity of Ulster County. In part: "His Lordship [Lord Loudon, Commander-in-Chief of the American forces, shortly to be removed from his post for the Fort William Henry debacle] for the better defence of your county has ordered a captain and fifty men of Col. Donaldson's regiment to cross to New Winsor and then march up the country and detach small partys [sic] wherever it will be necessary to cover the frontier until the company of the New York Regt. arrive to relieve them." The letter goes on to discuss the obligations of Colden et al to provide "all of the aid & assistance in your power for the Preservation of your Borders." A wonderful letter, written at a time when the stability of New York State was severely threatened by military incursions. Estates of George DeLancey Harris and Joanna Harri
DELANCEY, JAMES Autograph letter signed, addressed to Cadwallader Colden, Thomas Ellison, and Charles Clinton . New York, 6 October 1757. Single sheet, 11 3/4 x 14 1/2 inches (30 x 27 cm), folded to 2 leaves; paper with the Garter Arms watermark, c.f. Gravell 1399.1. The letter is twenty-nine lines, with the felicitation and signature on the reverse; the address is on the adjacent leaf. Some toning to paper, slight wear to folds, protected in a leather sleeve (now separated at spine), the document sealed in a plastic sleeve. A letter by James DeLancey during his final period of tenure as lieutenant-governor of New York, which began when Sir Charles Hardy stepped down in July 1757, and continued until DeLancey's death on July, 30, 1760. DeLancey was, in addition, the Chief Justice of New York, and had presided over the 1735 trial of John Peter Zenger on charges of sedition and libel, a seminal case in establishing the freedom of the press in America. When this letter was written, the French and Indian War was in its fourth year, and the disastrous Battle of Fort William Henry had been fought in August. Indian attacks in the Hudson Valley had become a matter of major concern. The letter is addressed to Cadwallader Colden (who would in turn become acting governor of New York upon DeLancey's death in 1760), Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Clinton, and Colonel Thomas Ellison, all of whom were at "New Winsor" (now New Windsor, New York). In it, DeLancey discusses in detail troop movements intended to suppress attacks by the Indians, mostly in the vicinity of Ulster County. In part: "His Lordship [Lord Loudon, Commander-in-Chief of the American forces, shortly to be removed from his post for the Fort William Henry debacle] for the better defence of your county has ordered a captain and fifty men of Col. Donaldson's regiment to cross to New Winsor and then march up the country and detach small partys [sic] wherever it will be necessary to cover the frontier until the company of the New York Regt. arrive to relieve them." The letter goes on to discuss the obligations of Colden et al to provide "all of the aid & assistance in your power for the Preservation of your Borders." A wonderful letter, written at a time when the stability of New York State was severely threatened by military incursions. Estates of George DeLancey Harris and Joanna Harri
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
