1827 Letter to William L. Marcy Accepting a Political Appointment, Likely on the Champlain Canal
- Single one-page letter measuring 8 x 9 ½ inches
- Whitehall, New York , 1827
Whitehall, New York, 1827. Single one-page letter measuring 8 x 9 ½ inches. Folded with tears at folds; excellent.. A letter from [possibly William] Van Benthuysen in Whitehall, New York, to future Secretary of State William L. Marcy, then State Comptroller, accepting an appointment. The appointment is unspecified, but likely related to the Champlain Canal; opened in 1823, the canal terminates at Whitehall on Lake Champlain. Van Benthuysen writes that the “Lower Lock at this place has given away” but “can be Repaird as soon as the rest part of the Canal will be Repaird” and that “as soon as the navigation opens I will select a person for Inspection and Report him to you.”
Full text as follows:
“Dear Sir Yours of the 24 ultimo has been gratefully Received I most Cordially accept the appointment and inclose the bond Referrd to in yours. [Executed] by myself Harvey Granger & M Wheeler if you should not deem them sufficient please advise me confidentially and I will procure others to sign with them —— as soon as the navigation opens I will select a person for Inspection and Report him to you as Requested in yours
"Yours with Great Respect
"[?] Van Benthuysen
“N.B. The Lower Lock at this place has given away in consequence of the great pressure of water which has been higher than has been known for sixteen years however since the water has fallen we find that is is not as bad as we expected & I think can be Repaird as soon as the rest part of the Canal will be Repaird & fit for navigation”.
Full text as follows:
“Dear Sir Yours of the 24 ultimo has been gratefully Received I most Cordially accept the appointment and inclose the bond Referrd to in yours. [Executed] by myself Harvey Granger & M Wheeler if you should not deem them sufficient please advise me confidentially and I will procure others to sign with them —— as soon as the navigation opens I will select a person for Inspection and Report him to you as Requested in yours
"Yours with Great Respect
"[?] Van Benthuysen
“N.B. The Lower Lock at this place has given away in consequence of the great pressure of water which has been higher than has been known for sixteen years however since the water has fallen we find that is is not as bad as we expected & I think can be Repaird as soon as the rest part of the Canal will be Repaird & fit for navigation”.