Item 17: Letter from Henry Clay to Edward, 1809 February 15
Item — Box: 11, Folder: 17
Dates
- Created: 1809 February 15
Creator
- Clay, Henry, 1777-1852 (Person)
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Poor - letter has holes, rips/tears, folds, watermarks
Measurements:
Letter: 9 13/16 in. x 7 15/16 in.; autograph: 4 11/16 in x 1 7/16 (full backing); 3 ¼ in x 1 3/16 in (slip autograph is on)
Description:
This is a letter from Henry Clay to Edward on February 15, 1809. This letter is a response to another and it is in regards to a debt owed by a man named Mr. Caldwell. This letter infers that they had been trying to collect the debt owed for a while now. During the year this letter was written, Clay was censured from the Kentucky legislature due to a feud with Humphrey Marshall that took place a month prior to this letter. It is possible Mr. Brown being referenced in this letter is James Brown as he is located in many of Clay’s biographies. Brown was the Secretary of State of Kentucky, a U.S. Senator, and Minister to France from 1823 to 1829. Clay married Lucretia Hart in 1799 in Kentucky. Her father, Colonel Thomas Hart, was an early settler of Kentucky and a prominent businessman. Hart was an important business connection for Clay, as he helped Clay gain new clients and grow in professional stature. Hart was the namesake and grand-uncle of Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Bentonand was also related to James Brown.
Henry Clay was born in Virginia in 1777 and was an American statesman and attorney who served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Clay was the ninth secretary of state and the seventh speaker of the house. He helped found the Whig Party and the National Republican Party.
Location:
Lexington, Kentucky
Transcription:
{Autograph}
I am faithfully your friend
H. Clay 27
{Letter}
Sir Lex. 15 Feb. 1809.
I received your favor of the 11 Jan[uary]. I do not recollect that the subject of your claim upon Mr. Brown, arising out of the debt due by Caldwell, is mentioned by that gentleman in more than one letter received by me from him, upon which I cannot lay my hands at this movement. My impression of its contents is that he will see that you are paid to the extent of any security actually obtained by him from Mr. Caldwell.
Perhaps your not receiving a reply from him is attributable to the infidelity of the Western mail.
Your ob[edient] serv[ant]
Henry Clay
Creator
- Clay, Henry, 1777-1852 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu