LEWIS, Meriwether (1774-1809). Autograph letter signed (''Meriwether Lewis'') to “Mrs. Humphreys”, Washington, 10 March 1803.
LEWIS, Meriwether (1774-1809). Autograph letter signed ("Meriwether Lewis") to “Mrs. Humphreys”, Washington, 10 March 1803.
Four pages, 246 x 202mm (remnant of seal to verso of second leaf).
In a rare autograph letter, Lewis settles his financial affairs in preparation for his expedition with William Clark. A lengthy letter written to the widow of Dr. Alexander Humphreys (1787-1802), a Staunton, Virginia physician. Humphreys had sold Lewis commissary and medical supplies when the young officer had been stationed in Staunton on recruiting duty during the Quasi-war with France. When Humphreys died in 1802, the estate administrators mistakenly believed that Lewis owed the estate for these supplies personally, when in reality the charges were owed by the federal government. In explaining the situation to Humphrey’s widow, he recalled that "during my residence at the Camp near Staunton I was in the habit of daily attention to the sick soldiary, in my visits to the sick I have occasionally found them without such medicine as the Dr. had prescribed and have therefore written to him and requested a further supply in order to pursue the regimen with the sick and convalescent soldiers which he had directed ... the medicine furnished to my orders was expended among the soldiers and of course stated in the Doctor's accounts against the public." Confident that the United States was in debt to the late doctor's estate, he concluded: "I trust Madam that on both these points I can perfectly satisfy yourself as well as the Executors and Administrators of Dr. Humphreys that I do not owe the estate a single cent."
[With:] Manuscript document, n.p., 1799, marked “A Copy.” An itemized account for supplies charged to “Lieut Merriweather [sic] To Lewis To A. Humphreys”, including “Salt”, “Bacon for Mess”, “Soap”, “Candles”, “50 Advertisements” (presumably rerouting leaflets), and most commonly, “Whiskey”.
Pre-Lot Text
PROPERTY FROM THE ROGER D. JUDD COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL LETTERS, DOCUMENTS AND MANUSCRIPTS
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LEWIS, Meriwether (1774-1809). Autograph letter signed ("Meriwether Lewis") to “Mrs. Humphreys”, Washington, 10 March 1803.
Four pages, 246 x 202mm (remnant of seal to verso of second leaf).
In a rare autograph letter, Lewis settles his financial affairs in preparation for his expedition with William Clark. A lengthy letter written to the widow of Dr. Alexander Humphreys (1787-1802), a Staunton, Virginia physician. Humphreys had sold Lewis commissary and medical supplies when the young officer had been stationed in Staunton on recruiting duty during the Quasi-war with France. When Humphreys died in 1802, the estate administrators mistakenly believed that Lewis owed the estate for these supplies personally, when in reality the charges were owed by the federal government. In explaining the situation to Humphrey’s widow, he recalled that "during my residence at the Camp near Staunton I was in the habit of daily attention to the sick soldiary, in my visits to the sick I have occasionally found them without such medicine as the Dr. had prescribed and have therefore written to him and requested a further supply in order to pursue the regimen with the sick and convalescent soldiers which he had directed ... the medicine furnished to my orders was expended among the soldiers and of course stated in the Doctor's accounts against the public." Confident that the United States was in debt to the late doctor's estate, he concluded: "I trust Madam that on both these points I can perfectly satisfy yourself as well as the Executors and Administrators of Dr. Humphreys that I do not owe the estate a single cent."
[With:] Manuscript document, n.p., 1799, marked “A Copy.” An itemized account for supplies charged to “Lieut Merriweather [sic] To Lewis To A. Humphreys”, including “Salt”, “Bacon for Mess”, “Soap”, “Candles”, “50 Advertisements” (presumably rerouting leaflets), and most commonly, “Whiskey”.
Pre-Lot Text
PROPERTY FROM THE ROGER D. JUDD COLLECTION OF HISTORICAL LETTERS, DOCUMENTS AND MANUSCRIPTS
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
