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Sale 58
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Lot 57
St. Clair, Arthur (1734-1818) As a Revolutionary War general, St. Clair surrendered Ticonderoga to the British, for which he was court martialed and acquitted. He served as president of the Continental Congress (Feb. 2-Nov. 4, 1787) and as governor of the Northwest Territory (1789-1802) and was largely responsible for the expansion to the Northwest Territory.
Autograph Letter Signed "A St. Clair," 2pp, 10½ x 8 in., recto/verso, Chestnut Ridge, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1813. To three New York ladies, including Miss Wooster Jr. and Mrs. Riker. Begins, In part, "About a fortnight ago I received through Mr. Mountain of Pittsburgh, the Letter you did me the honor to write to me on the 2d of February, together with its enclosures, to wit, a Check on the Bank of Philadelphia for five hundred Dollars – Had I not been ill since, the receipt of that Letter would have been sooner acknowledged for it was of nature that demanded a prompt acknowledgment. It is not easy, Ladies to imagine the astonishment with which that, I believe unparalleled instance of the generous disinterested Bounty of the Ladies of New York struck me, so very few of whom I have the honor to be personally known…tho’ the frost of many Winters are upon my Head – My Heart is not yet so cold as to be insensible to female Praise – it conveyed a Balm to my wounded Spirit. Wounded not by the loss of fortune and the need of pecuniary aid, but by Confine obloquy and contumely whom I thought (and now since I have their approbation I say it boldly), I thought I had least merited thanks, for, to say nothing of my military services which they have so kindly eulogized. I had, in a great measure at my own expense, raised up for the United States in fifteen years a Colony from thirty Men to upwards of sixty thousand – amalgamated the most heterogeneous Mass of population – carried Laws, Religion, Morals and Manners to the extremest limit of New territory – made the people happy and laid a foundation for the continuance of that happiness to Millions yet unborn and in which every faculty of mind and Body has been unremittingly employed.…" Thin mounting strip at left edge of first page. Tear in lower portion and slight separations have been expertly repaired by silking. Fine condition.
In his late seventies, St. Clair was living in a log-house on the summit of Chestnut Ridge in the Allegheny Mountains. He lived in poverty and existed on generous gifts, unpaid loans, and claims against the government for money advanced to help recruit soldiers during the Revolutionary War. When he petitioned the Congress and the State of Pennsylvania for relief, word of his dire circumstances became public knowledge, and three ladies from New York sent him $500. Later in 1813, Pennsylvania granted him an annuity. On March 9, 1818, President James Monroe signed "An act for the relief of Major General Arthur St. Clair." Five months later, on August 31, 1818, Revolutionary War Major General and former President of the United States in Congress Assembled Arthur St. Clair died at the age of 82.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000.
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