[ Autograph ] Martin Van Buren 1782-1862 Eighth President of the United States, Secretary of State and a close ally of Andrew Jackson.A.L.S. lp. sm. 4to., New York, Feb. 8, 1848 to Henry D. Gilpin 1801- 1860 who had served as Van Buren's Attorney general In this letter, Van Buren grieves the loss of one of Gilpin's relatives In part: '..Ineed not say how sincerely I sympathize with your good wife & yourself in the cruel loss you have sustained. I have promised myselfmuch pleasure in my visit to you but of that we will speak hereafter.Remember affectionately to Mrs. Gilpin...' Later in 1848, van Buren would run as the Free Soil candidate against Whig Zachary Taylor. Folds, otherwise very good.