Lot 55
George Washington Autograph Letter Signed as President (1732-1799) First President of the United States (1789-1797); Commander-in Chief of the Continental Army (1775-1883). ALS ("Go: Washington"), as President, 2 pages (recto/verso of 1 page), 9 x 7½", on laid paper, Philadelphia, March 31, 1794. To William Tilghman (1756-1827), a lawyer who served for years as chief justice of Pennsylvania, and who was brother to Tench Tilghman, Washington's close friend and aide, regarding money due the estate of Col. Colville, of whose estate Washington was executor. The question was whether or not interest should be paid on debts incurred before the Revolutionary War. Docket on verso of integral leaf is partially covered by 1" strip of paper along margin; one small hole between two lines of text, affecting nothing. A very clean, beautifully scripted and signed letter by our first President, one of the nicest examples we have seen. Accompanied by a transcript of William Tilghman's letter to Washington regarding this matter, dated March 23, 1794.
Replying to Tilghman's letter of March 23, 1794, Washington writes, in part: "…The laws, in the cases of both Mr. George and Mr. Chalmers, must regulate my conduct. To do all that these will permit, is enough for my justification--more I shall not covet. If, however, as I conceive the fact assuredly is, the latter gentleman has actually received, and did not pay, a hundred pounds which was put into his hands as part of a Bond due to the estate of Colvill (and was then bearing interest) it would seem but justice that he should allow interest for that sum, when applied to his own use but if there is a principle arising from analogy or reciprocity, opposed thereto, I must be content with what Mr. Chalmers will pay; and this I am disposed to receive, in order that my administration of the estate of Colo. Colvill may be finally closed." Washington then discusses his preferences as to how he would prefer that Mr. George pay money due the Colville estate, then adds: "If the law of Maryland has stopped interest during a certain period of the War, the estate of course must (as I have observed before) lose it. The case however, was otherwise in Virginia, for there I have lately recovered a pretty heavy debt with interest from the date of the bond, which was taken before the war…." Estimate Value $12,000 - 15,000
Purchased from Joe Rubinfine.
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| Realized $17,400 |
