Description:

ELBRIDGE GERRY
(1744 - 1814) Signer of the Declaration of Independence and member of the Continental Congress who opposed ratification of the Constitution as drafted. Fine content A.L.S. "Mrs. Gerry" in text, 2pp. 4to., Cambridge, Apr. 4, 1797, Gerry's retained copy of a letter sent by him to future President James Monroe, who had just been recalled from France. In part: "...I am very happy to hear of your arrival at Philadelphia; but Mrs. Gerry and myself should have been much more so, had you taken passage from Boston...Your recall has always been, in my mind, enigmatical. I have made inquiry but no one could tell the reason. When Mr. Adel [?] was here...he supposed, there was a plan to fill all the foreign offices with men disaffected to the french government ...I am convinced that there has been a deep system, at home & abroad, to disgrace republicanism & republican officers, & that the late President [Washington] has unfortunately confided too much...our present chief magistrate was not in the secret: the intriguers probably knew him too well, to suppose he would join the nefarious league; others accordingly laid a plan to prevent his electors as well as Mr. Jefferson, but have happily for the public, failed...the refusal of Mr. Pinckney, will flash conviction in the faces of your enemies and defeat their calumnies...". Marginal mounting traces, else very good to fine. In the spring of 1794, Monroe accepted the diplomatic position of Minister Plenipotentiary to France. His assignment was to help maintain friendly relations with France despite efforts to remain on peaceful terms with France's enemy, Great Britain. Monroe was recalled in September 1796 and felt he had been betrayed by his opponents who used him to appease France while they made great concessions to Britain in Jay's Treaty that the United States had signed in 1794. He remained bitter about it for the remainder of his life.

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May 13, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

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