JOSEPH REED (1741 - 1785) Revolutionary statesman and soldier, signer of the Articles of Confederation, delegate to the Continental Congress, served briefly as an aide-de-camp to Washington, and played an important role in the Howe Peace Commission. Good content A.L.S. "Jos. Reed ", 2pp. legal folio, Philadelphia, Dec. 9, 1784 to Elbridge Gerry discussing potential nominees for the treasury board. Reed writs in most part: "I receive with great Pleasure your kind Congratulations on my Return & shall be happy in every Opp [ortunity] to express how much & how truly I value your obliging Friendship. Your Assistance of a deal in Congress was an unexpected Pleasure as I was confirmed you had already declined it. Indeed our long Service might have intitled [sic] you to claim some Indulgence, but it is the more generous in you to waive it & your Experience now enables you to render more important service. I was appointed with out my Concurrence & with express leave to consult my private Affairs which I was due to a considerable Degree if Congress remains at Trenton. But the Gentlemen in the Delegation conform so generally in Sentiment with each other & with those Interests which I particularly respect that I have the less Concern on that Head. You will find them Men of Principles & possessing Such ideas of Government as I think you approve - I had heard of the Candidate for the Treasury & think with you a better way to be found. Mr. [Charles] Pettit's Talent's lay...& he is a Man of Principle. Take him in Temper, Skill in Accts. & real Integrity. I do not think he has many [illeg.] in the country, I do not know the Value of the Appointment but I believe he will accept it if the Scale is not so parsimonious. He is not a man of Expenses, Dissipation or Intrigue so that less will be necessary... ". Interestingly enough, Charles Pettit (1736-1806) was Reed's brother-in-law, having married Reed's sister Sarah in the 1750s. Reed was not being entirely nepotistic in his recommendation however. Pettit had served as Assistant Quartermaster General in the Continental Army from 1778 to 1781. On December 7, Reed (with Gerry seconding) motioned that an election for a two members be elected to the treasury board. Congress continually delayed the election until January 25, 1785 when they elected Samuel Osgood, Lewis Gervais and Walter Livingston to the board. Affixed to the bottom of the page is a portion of the original transmittal leaf addressed in Reed's hand to "The Hon. Elbridge Gerry Esq. " and stamped "FREE " at top right. Partial fold separations (one repaired on recto), light foxing and toning, light dampstains, mounting remnants at one margin, otherwise very good condition. $2,500-3,500