MONROE, James. Autograph letter signed ("James Monroe") to Samuel L. Gouverneur, Oak Hill, 8 April 1830. 3 pages, 4to, small loss at folds, affecting last letter of signature . "I WISH TO BE PLACED...ON HONORABLE GROUND": MONROE BATTLES FOR BACK PAY AND PLANS A BOOK COMPARING AMERICA TO "THE ANCIENT REPUBLICKS" Just over a year before he died, Monroe expresses anger over a proposal by Congress to give him a land grant in lieu of payment for the extensive debts he incurred while a foreign minister: "the proposition would be an abandonment of all claim, & would be sure to fail. My wish is, that honorable ground be taken for me, as a person who has just claims, for injuries rendered him by the govt. itself, and which I could never bring forward until I retired from office." In desperate financial straits, Monroe discusses some publishing ventures he hopes will turn a profit: "I am engaged in a work which shall be entitled, 'A biographical & historical view of the great events to which Mr. M. was a party & of which he was a spectator, in the course of his public service.' Commencing with my service in the army, in the legislature, & council of the State, in the revolutionary Congress, & in the Senate, I have brought it to the conclusion of my first mission to France, which would if printed make about 120 pages...." He also plans to write "a comparison between our govt. & the ancient republicks, and likewise the govt. of England. Of this, I have already extended it to a view of the govt. of Athens & Lacedaman, of Greece, of Carthage, with notes on that of Rome, to which I have drawn an introductory view of govt. & society..." He is prepared to publish his wartime correspondence as well. He reverts to his unpaid expenses: "I wish to be placed in the description of my claims on honorable ground, as having claims founded on injuries, not as a petitioner for bounty or a pension. They will be more likely to succeed in this mode than any other, and if rejected I lose no credit, and support will thereby be given to the publications suggested..." Like his predecessor and fellow Virginian Thomas Jefferson Monroe left the White House heavily in debt (to the tune of some $75,000) and his financial situation only worsened over the course of his long retirement. Congress paid him only part of the tens of thousands of dollars owed him from his diplomatic service to the country. Like Jefferson he also died on the Fourth of July, and the intriguing literary efforts he mentions here remained uncompleted at the time of his death.
MONROE, James. Autograph letter signed ("James Monroe") to Samuel L. Gouverneur, Oak Hill, 8 April 1830. 3 pages, 4to, small loss at folds, affecting last letter of signature . "I WISH TO BE PLACED...ON HONORABLE GROUND": MONROE BATTLES FOR BACK PAY AND PLANS A BOOK COMPARING AMERICA TO "THE ANCIENT REPUBLICKS" Just over a year before he died, Monroe expresses anger over a proposal by Congress to give him a land grant in lieu of payment for the extensive debts he incurred while a foreign minister: "the proposition would be an abandonment of all claim, & would be sure to fail. My wish is, that honorable ground be taken for me, as a person who has just claims, for injuries rendered him by the govt. itself, and which I could never bring forward until I retired from office." In desperate financial straits, Monroe discusses some publishing ventures he hopes will turn a profit: "I am engaged in a work which shall be entitled, 'A biographical & historical view of the great events to which Mr. M. was a party & of which he was a spectator, in the course of his public service.' Commencing with my service in the army, in the legislature, & council of the State, in the revolutionary Congress, & in the Senate, I have brought it to the conclusion of my first mission to France, which would if printed make about 120 pages...." He also plans to write "a comparison between our govt. & the ancient republicks, and likewise the govt. of England. Of this, I have already extended it to a view of the govt. of Athens & Lacedaman, of Greece, of Carthage, with notes on that of Rome, to which I have drawn an introductory view of govt. & society..." He is prepared to publish his wartime correspondence as well. He reverts to his unpaid expenses: "I wish to be placed in the description of my claims on honorable ground, as having claims founded on injuries, not as a petitioner for bounty or a pension. They will be more likely to succeed in this mode than any other, and if rejected I lose no credit, and support will thereby be given to the publications suggested..." Like his predecessor and fellow Virginian Thomas Jefferson Monroe left the White House heavily in debt (to the tune of some $75,000) and his financial situation only worsened over the course of his long retirement. Congress paid him only part of the tens of thousands of dollars owed him from his diplomatic service to the country. Like Jefferson he also died on the Fourth of July, and the intriguing literary efforts he mentions here remained uncompleted at the time of his death.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
