[Partial Autograph letter signed from Wilkinson to James Brown, an early Louisiana Territory letter]

Wilkinson, James

Published by [St. Louis?], 1807

3pp., plus integral address leaf marked Private. 4to. Latter part of a letter written by General James Wilkinson to James Brown, U.S. Attorney General of New Orleans. Wilkinson (1757-1825) was a general in the American Revolution; he subsequently served in Wayne's Ohio campaign against the Indians, and was successively governor at Detroit, St. Louis, and New Orleans. He was embroiled in Aaron Burr's western schemes, and ultimately became a Texas landowner. James Brown was appointed by President Jefferson as the Secretary of Orleans Territory in 1804, and later accepted an appointment as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Orleans, from 1805-1808. He later served as a U.S. Senator from Louisiana and as Ambassador to France. Though the first half of this letter is lacking, it would seem to have been written while Wilkinson was Governor of Louisiana Territory, stationed at St. Louis (1805-1807); it is addressed as private mail to Brown as Attorney & Advocate General at New Orleans (1805-1808). The opening line of Wilkinson's letter refers to the squabbles within the Army ranks about the order for short hair. Officers were expected to cut off their queue, or pigtails, in compliance with new Army regulations; this, however, caused a split in the ranks, and many of the old guard - who were primarily Federalists - resigned rather than submit to a trim. Lt. Col. Thomas Butler was, in fact, twice court martialed for refusing to comply. "These are both good officers, & the first is a [fringed?] cat, tho very fond of his hair, yet I doubt not the correctness of their judgment, or the soundness of their principles. I find [Stuart?] resigns & wishes to visit the seat of government; I expect in character of ambassador from Butler & Claiborne, to promote their [illegible] purposes & plat the devil with the Brigadier General; I should be glad to be informed of the standing of this charming trio. My poor Ann is with me accompanied by my son James, who remembers you with respectful attachment. My son Biddle is at Williams Burgh for a year to read law & hear the lectures, after which he will go into the office of Willm. Pinckney of Maryland, the great young man of our country." He goes on to wish Brown well, including what appears to be a reference to resisting the temptations of the colored ladies of New Orleans, followed by a slantwise reference to a new phase of his life: "I hope you have been able to realize all your hopes & expectations in the capital of the West [i.e., New Orleans], and that you may live long to enjoy the wealth you are accumulating. I hope also that your mercurial temperament does not expose or rather subject you to the sinful allurements which encompass you in all the various tints & shades of the human kind, from ebony to alabaster. I hope too that you are well with my friend Livingston, because of his charming disposition & generous soul. I am about to enter upon a new theatre & in a part which I have never before played. The result therefore can but be dubious, yet I despair not of avoiding the filth & dirt, with which my worthy brother near you has besmeared himself. The views of the Executive on my government differ entirely from those applied to every other colony, but I really have not time to say more than that depopulation constitutes a prime object." An interesting letter by this controversial American figure. Old folds. Closed tear to second leaf, minutely affecting text. A few pieces of old tape, primarily in margin. Light wear and soiling. About good. Missing the first few pages 3pp., plus integral address leaf marked Private. 4to. Seller Inventory # 248880

Bibliographic Details

Title: [Partial Autograph letter signed from ...
Publisher: [St. Louis?]
Publication Date: 1807