Tyler, John (1790-1862) 10th President of the United States (1841-1845). Autograph letter signed as President, 2pp plus docketed integral leaf and address panel from envelope with free frank ("J Tyler"), 8 x 10 in., Washington, Feb. 26, 1844. To Robert Anderson, an important legislator from Virginia and Tyler's neighbor.
In part: "My Dear Sir, I owe you many apologies for not having sooner attended to your letter in relation to your subscription to the Madisonian and Intelligencer. A day or two after receiving it I paid the subscription in the full and had laid it away so securely that I cannot now find it - however consider it as paid. The arrival of Sir Richard Pakenham [the new ambassador from Britain] has produced some little stir among us - no communications have yet passed between us and him, and therefore I cannot say what are the extent of his powers in regard to the Oregon. If he comes with full powers and brings along with him the actual spirit of peace, I shall rejoice, and shall not be turned out of my way in the negotiation by the fire-eaters of the two powers. Peace should be the great desire of the country provided it can be preserved on honorable terms. We are rapidly repairing the errors of the past in our domestic policy and I am most happy to believe that the country is rising up from the paralysis of 1840 with the strength and power of a young giantess. The receipts at the custom house have been very large during this quarter. The single port of N. York has received $5,000,000 and the receipts of some days have exceeded all that has heretofore occurred--with credit restored, commerce revived, and peace preserved, I trust that a year more will present to us all a smiling and happy land…."
Tyler hopes to discuss Oregon with the new British ambassador. In 1818, the United States and Britain had agreed to joint occupation of the sprawling half-million square miles of Oregon country, which extended from west of the Rockies to the Pacific, between the northern boundary of present-day California and the southern tip of Alaska; however, thousands of Americans started moving into the territory in the 1840s and Americans believed that it was "Manifest Destiny" that the United States should stretch to the Pacific.
Two days after Tyler wrote this letter, he was a passenger on the steamship USS Princeton when the world's largest naval gun, called the "Peacemaker" blew up and killed his secretaries of state and of the navy, and several other dignitaries, including the father of Julia Gardiner, Tyler future second wife. Tyler narrowly escaped being one of the victims.
Two letters of Robert Anderson to Tyler are included in this lot. Tyler's letter is in fine condition. With full transcription. Estimated Value $6,000 - 8,000
U.S. Presidents
