WASHINGTON, GEORGE Letter signed to New York Governor George Clinton . Rocky Hill, New Jersey: 23 October 1783. Two page letter on recto and verso of a single sheet, executed in the hand of aide-de-camp Benjamin Walker and signed by Washington on the verso. 9 x 7 3/8 inches (23.3 x 19.2 cm). Inlaid to larger sheet, various repairs including one just touching one letter in the signature, a few small stains and splits at folds. Provenance: Mrs. Alga Law, wife of notable 19th century railroad magnate George Law (1843-1896, son of financier and collector George Law, an original owner of the SS Central America, its first name was the SS George Law). This letter removed from an album, bound in London where Mrs. Law resided after her husband's death. Bequested to the New York City Bar Association in 1935 (see enclosures). A VICTORIOUS GENERAL WASHINGTON INFORMS THE DISPLACED GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK OF THE BRITISH EVACUATION OF MANHATTAN. "I think it now pretty evident that the British will leave New York in all next month - Sir Guy Carleton has informed me verbally" - In the waning days of the American Revolution, Washington here informs Governor George Clinton of the progress of the delayed British evacuation. Washington had arrived at Rocky Hill, New Jersey in late August 1783 at the request of the Continental Congress, which had convened at Princeton. From Rocky Hill, Washington frequently corresponded with Sir Guy Carleton, the final commander of the British army in North America, about the evacuation of the city. Washington here informs Clinton at Poughkeepsie of his most recent correspondence from Carleton, faced with the gargantuan task of removing the upwards of 30,000 British troops, loyalists and military stores after seven years of occupation and decades of colonial rule. Washington informs Clinton that Carleton "should be able to fix the day of departure" once his transport ships return from depositing troops and military stores at Nova Scotia. Importantly, Washington provides troops to Clinton for the reclaiming of the city, writing "I have this day written to General Knox-desiring him to confer with your Excellency and make every necessary Arrangement for taking possession of the City the moment the British quit it." Washington offers as an enclosure a copy of that letter, not present here. The letter-book copy of this letter records a postscript regarding Clinton's ill health, likely a second enclosure. The British would evacuate New York City on November 25th, 1783 and Washington would re-enter that city, lost to the British in 1776 after the Battle of Long Island, for the first time in seven years. At the end of 1783, Washington would begin a short-lived retirement at Mount Vernon until 1787, when he attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and was elected president in 1789. John C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington, vol. 27, p. 204. C The New York City Bar Association
WASHINGTON, GEORGE Letter signed to New York Governor George Clinton . Rocky Hill, New Jersey: 23 October 1783. Two page letter on recto and verso of a single sheet, executed in the hand of aide-de-camp Benjamin Walker and signed by Washington on the verso. 9 x 7 3/8 inches (23.3 x 19.2 cm). Inlaid to larger sheet, various repairs including one just touching one letter in the signature, a few small stains and splits at folds. Provenance: Mrs. Alga Law, wife of notable 19th century railroad magnate George Law (1843-1896, son of financier and collector George Law, an original owner of the SS Central America, its first name was the SS George Law). This letter removed from an album, bound in London where Mrs. Law resided after her husband's death. Bequested to the New York City Bar Association in 1935 (see enclosures). A VICTORIOUS GENERAL WASHINGTON INFORMS THE DISPLACED GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK OF THE BRITISH EVACUATION OF MANHATTAN. "I think it now pretty evident that the British will leave New York in all next month - Sir Guy Carleton has informed me verbally" - In the waning days of the American Revolution, Washington here informs Governor George Clinton of the progress of the delayed British evacuation. Washington had arrived at Rocky Hill, New Jersey in late August 1783 at the request of the Continental Congress, which had convened at Princeton. From Rocky Hill, Washington frequently corresponded with Sir Guy Carleton, the final commander of the British army in North America, about the evacuation of the city. Washington here informs Clinton at Poughkeepsie of his most recent correspondence from Carleton, faced with the gargantuan task of removing the upwards of 30,000 British troops, loyalists and military stores after seven years of occupation and decades of colonial rule. Washington informs Clinton that Carleton "should be able to fix the day of departure" once his transport ships return from depositing troops and military stores at Nova Scotia. Importantly, Washington provides troops to Clinton for the reclaiming of the city, writing "I have this day written to General Knox-desiring him to confer with your Excellency and make every necessary Arrangement for taking possession of the City the moment the British quit it." Washington offers as an enclosure a copy of that letter, not present here. The letter-book copy of this letter records a postscript regarding Clinton's ill health, likely a second enclosure. The British would evacuate New York City on November 25th, 1783 and Washington would re-enter that city, lost to the British in 1776 after the Battle of Long Island, for the first time in seven years. At the end of 1783, Washington would begin a short-lived retirement at Mount Vernon until 1787, when he attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and was elected president in 1789. John C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington, vol. 27, p. 204. C The New York City Bar Association
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
