Lot 715

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Description:

THOMAS JEFFERSON
(1743 - 1826) Third President of the United States, author and signer of the Declaration of Independence, ceased the importation of slaves to America. Important L.S. "Th: Jefferson" as President, 1p. folio, Washington, June 29, 1804 to First Consul of the French Republic and President of the Italian Republic, Napoleon Bonaparte informing him of the departure of the current American ambassador, Robert R. Livingston, who the previous year, negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. The letter reads in full: "Citizen First Consul and President, Robert R. Livingston, who for several years has resided with you as the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, having desired to return to America, we have yielded to his request. He will accordingly take his leave of you, embracing that occasion to assure you of our friendship and sincere desire to preserve and strengthen the harmony and good understanding so happily subsisting between the two Nations, and which will be further manifested by his Successor. We are persuaded, that he will do this in the manner most expressive of these sentiments, and of the respect and sincerity with which they are offered. We pray God to keep you, Citizen First Consul and President under his holy protection." Countersigned by JAMES MADISON as Secretary of State. Robert R. Livingston (1746 - 1813) known as "The Chancellor," served as the first Chancellor of New York from 1777 to 1801 when he accepted Jefferson's appointment as minister to France. Jefferson sent Livingston specifically to negotiate a purchase of the Port of New Orleans, which had recently reverted from Spanish to French control. Authorized to purchase the port for $10 million, Livingston and his fellow diplomats were blindsided when France offered the entire Louisiana territory for only $15 million. Although Livingston was authorized to purchase New Orleans, he feared the offer would be rescinded at any time preventing him from accomplishing his original task, so he agreed to the offer. The purchase doubled the size of the country, and Livingston remarked, "We have lived long but this is the noblest work of our whole lives...The United States take rank this day among the first powers of the world." It was also during his time in France that Livingston met Robert Fulton. The pair developed the first steamboat which they tested on the Seine on August 3, 1803. Back in the United States, the pair would continue their work launching their first commercial steamer, Clermont in 1807. Provenance: DuPont family to the family of the present owner. In 1803, Jefferson had sent Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours to assist Livingston and James Monroe with the negotiations. Document is brittle with partial fold separations and some tears, uneven toning, backed with linen, else good condition. Certainly worthy of professional restoration. A tremendous association piece tied to one of most important accomplishments of Jefferson's presidency.

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December 9, 2011 11:00 AM EST
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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