May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
Brigham, Elijah (1751-1816). Autograph letter signed, to his wife Sarah Ward Brigham at "Westboro Massachusetts" dated Washington, April 18, 1812 and bearing Congressional free frank. Quarto, bifold sheet, 3 pp. of text, 9 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches. Congressman Brigham, "just returned from an excursion from Mount Vernon, which is about 16 Miles from this place" in company with Genl. Champion of Connecticut. He describes the visit in great detail, from "the House where Genl. Washington...lived and died, went to his Tomb, and saw the end of the Greatness of a Great Man. We went over the Gardens which he once Owned and enjoyed, now under the direction of Judge [Bushrod] Washington. The greatest Curiousity to me was the Lemon Trees....in the House prepared for that purpose about 300 trees and most of them loaded with Lemons, many of which were in great perfection. There were also the Orange Trees but no fruit on them....I went much over the Lower floor of the Mansion House... [which] has the Appearance of what we call in this World Great, and owned by some dignified Character....[and] saw several of his Old Negroes, One of who said that he had waited on Genl. Washington for more than forty years, he was Gray. There were many young Negroes, some of who were almost naked" and he observed that "they have promoted and encouraged the number of Negroes, as we do Our Cattle and all a kind of Stock, which they raise as Cheap as any and consider themselves rich according to their estimate of this kind of property. I saw a young female, I presume not more than 13 or 14, very stout. They have more measures and forms of Comfort here than in New England." Brigham wishes "very much to return home, but I suppose that I shall stay until they declare war [on Great Britain] or the question will go by. I hope the Election of Strong [as a Federalist governor of Massachusetts] will have a good effect here." CONDITION: slight separation at one or two folds, otherwise a very clean and bright and with strongly inked text. JLK
Provenance: by descent in the General Artemas Ward-Elijah Brigham Family until 2012; private collection to present.