2022-11 Raynors HCA Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/18/2022
Lansing, John Lansing, Jr. (1754-1829) Prominent American lawyer and politician who served as a longtime member and speaker of the New York State Assembly and the Confederation Congress; he was appointed Mayor of Albany in 1786, and represented New York at the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Revolutionary War-dated Autograph Letter Signed "J. Lansing Jun'r," three pages on two adjoining sheets, 7.5 x 12.75, March 27, 1777. Letter to Colonel Richard Varick, in part: "I arrived here last night and found your sisters & brother well. Nothing material here as yet occurred in our travels. The General got the start of us and arrived six hours before us at this place. The Detachment of the enemy's forces which landed at peek's Hill were drove back by Colonel Willet with only 84 men although their number was 600 in less than three hours after Colo. Willett made his appearance the enemy had embarked & unfurled their sails. This was done with such evident precipitation and confusion as plainly indicated in their terror. This account is confirmed by several persons from peek's Hill. The British Forces lost three men who were killed and one taken prisoner. Your Friend Nic. Fish has by his merit acquired a majority in one of the Regiments of this State. General Scot is a peek's Hill. I have sent you letter to him by Capt. Bleecker. Inclosed you have a letter from Mr. Livingston. I have by the General's direction desired Colo. Lewis to pay you the money mentioned therein. Last night Mr. Carter arrived and delivered me your favor of the 26th day by which I had the pleasure to learn that every thing at Albany is in status quo. Whatever I can do to induce the General to solicit an Increase in your pay and that of your assistants shall not be neglected...Our General is very well long, very long may he continue so." Lansing signs again, "J. L. Jun'r," at the end of a lengthy postscript, "The story marker is not home but the storys shall be left at his house. Not a word of direction do I see among the memorandums relative thereto. I doubt much whether we will take the route of New Windsor, if we do, I shall not fail to procure the articles mentioned in the Mem. You enclosed if possible. The flower seed for the young ladies I inclose." Reverse of integral address page franked in Lansing's own hand. In very good condition, with areas of paper loss, nearly complete splitting along the central horizontal fold, and staining from very old scotch tape. An exceptional handwritten letter with great battle content from the prominent New York figure.
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