细节
BURR, AARON. Autograph letter signed ("AB") to David Gelston, Collector of the Port of New York, n.p., 16 February [1804], 1 page, folio, integral blank with Gelston's docket, small tear to address leaf.
BURR AND JOHN JACOB ASTOR SPECULATE IN NEW YORK REAL ESTATE
An interesting letter, written only two days before his fateful nomination for New York governor. During that unsuccessful campaign, Burr's simmering quarrel with Alexander Hamilton culminated in their fatal duel, on 11 July. "By the letter of Mr. Astor herewith enclosed [not present] you will see that he offers not quite 2500 dol.rs for the lots -- but with the deduction of 500...which I owe him. This debt was created by an error in our accounts of his own creation. He convinced me of the error; but the money had been paid to me and was appropriated. It was therefore left as a debt.
"Those lots are really worth 300 D.sapiece & will sell for that in the course of the summer. What now prevents a fair Sale is that they are included in a Mortgage with other lots which were sold to Mr. Astor & the money left in his hands to pay the whole mortgage for doing which I have his Covenant; but all this could not be explained at auction. If you choose to take the lots yourself, you may have them for 2500 D.s, if not you may sell them at the offer of Astor in case nothing better offers. Dr. Browne will execute the Deed..."
In July, Burr's duel with Hamilton effectively ended his career in politics. John Jacob Astor, having made substantial sums in the fur-factoring trade, began at this period to make large purchases of city real estate which later formed the bulk of the Astor family fortune.
Provenance:
1. David Gelston (1733-1828) of Long Island, delegate to the Provincial Congress in New York and to the Constitutional Convention, appointed Collector of the Port of New York by Jefferson in 1801.
2. A direct descendant of the above (sale, Christie's, 19 December 1986, lot 24).
BURR AND JOHN JACOB ASTOR SPECULATE IN NEW YORK REAL ESTATE
An interesting letter, written only two days before his fateful nomination for New York governor. During that unsuccessful campaign, Burr's simmering quarrel with Alexander Hamilton culminated in their fatal duel, on 11 July. "By the letter of Mr. Astor herewith enclosed [not present] you will see that he offers not quite 2500 dol.rs for the lots -- but with the deduction of 500...which I owe him. This debt was created by an error in our accounts of his own creation. He convinced me of the error; but the money had been paid to me and was appropriated. It was therefore left as a debt.
"Those lots are really worth 300 D.sapiece & will sell for that in the course of the summer. What now prevents a fair Sale is that they are included in a Mortgage with other lots which were sold to Mr. Astor & the money left in his hands to pay the whole mortgage for doing which I have his Covenant; but all this could not be explained at auction. If you choose to take the lots yourself, you may have them for 2500 D.s, if not you may sell them at the offer of Astor in case nothing better offers. Dr. Browne will execute the Deed..."
In July, Burr's duel with Hamilton effectively ended his career in politics. John Jacob Astor, having made substantial sums in the fur-factoring trade, began at this period to make large purchases of city real estate which later formed the bulk of the Astor family fortune.
Provenance:
1. David Gelston (1733-1828) of Long Island, delegate to the Provincial Congress in New York and to the Constitutional Convention, appointed Collector of the Port of New York by Jefferson in 1801.
2. A direct descendant of the above (sale, Christie's, 19 December 1986, lot 24).
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