SELLING THE SCHENECTADY BARRACKS A fascinating pair of manuscript documents chronicling the contested sale of the barracks and guard house at Albany, long maintained by the Continental Army. The first piece, a D.S. signed by five trustees of the town, 1p. legal folio, Schenectady, Oct. 30, 1783 to Assistant Deputy Quartermaster Nicholas Quackenbush reads, in part: "...We understand by your advertisement that you are going to Sell the Guard house in this town now publick [sic] Property, this Sir we must request you not to do as we Look upon that house belong [ing] to the town...the house was to remain for the benefit of the Place, and we did then furnish...timber and stone for the same... " Offered together with a manuscript document, composed and possibly partly in the hand of Nicholas Quackenbush, 2pp. legal folio, Schenectady, [prob. Oct. 1783], which includes what appears to be a draft for a printed advertisement: "To be Sold at Public Auction on Thursday the 30th November Instant the Pubic Barracks with two Acres of Ground the Guard House of 35 by 15 and a Stable of 60 by 15 feet The Sales to begin at Two O'clock. Only Cash Mr Morris' Notes...Bank Notes or Debts Contracted in the Quarter Master Generals Department can be Received in payment." The second page bears a shorter version of the same advertisement: "To be Sold at Public Auction On Thursday the 30th November Instant at Schenectady the Public Barracks There with the Guard Hosue and Stable. " Below, in another hand, are several notes noting that the "Barrick Sold for £160... " We do not know how the issue of the guard house was resolved in the end. Usual folds, rough margins, very light toning, otherwise fine. $500-700