Arthur Lee FF Docketed By Nicholas Gilman, Brother Of Rare Constitution Signer -

Lee Arthur

Arthur Lee FF Docketed by Nathaniel Gilman, Brother of Rare Constitution Signer

 

Address leaf signed by Arthur Lee (1740-1792) as "Free A Lee" in the lower left corner. Also stamped "Free" under the "Board of Treasury" inscription in the upper right hand corner. The leaf is addressed to "Nathaniel Gilman Esq^r. Comm^r. of the Loan Office for the State of New Hampshire." Postmarked from New York City on August 31, 1788. Docketed by recipient Nathaniel Gilman at right as "aug^t. 20^th : 1788 - relative to requisition of Congress for paym In^t." Trimmed at top. With expected paper folds and minor paper abrasion verso corresponding to seal mark, otherwise near fine. Folded, the leaf measures 5.5" x 3.25". Accompanied by a photocopy of the original letter from the Board of Treasury dated August 30, 1788.

 

Board of Treasury commissioners Arthur Lee and Samuel Osgood (1747-1813) signed the original letter addressed to Nathaniel Gilman, New Hampshire Commissioner of the Loan-Office, containing a circular copy of Congressional Resolutions recently passed on August 20, 1788.

 

With untouched spelling and grammar. The original letter, a copy of which is included, stated:

 

"Sir: -

 

The United States in Congress having on the 20^th of August Instant past a Requisition for one years Interest on the Domestic Debt. (Copy of which together with any Instructions we may judge necessary shall be transmitted to you in the Course of next Week - ) -, we desire you will not forward to the Treasurer, any further Sums, which you may receive in Indents, on account of former Requisitions; as we shall necessarily be obliged to direct their being reissued -

 

We are, Sir, Your most Obed^t Humble Servants --

Samuel Osgood (signed)

Arthur Lee (signed)."

 

Just 2 weeks earlier, 5 Board of Treasury Committee members made recommendations before Congress regarding the nation's finances. Although the United States still owed large payments to foreign lenders--notably France and the Netherlands--interest payments collected in previous years were in surplus. Therefore, the Committee recommended that the nation tackle interest payments on its Domestic Debt.

 

Congress passed 7 resolutions designed to make book-keeping easy and payment plans convenient. Interest payments on the Domestic Debt totaling $1,686,141.12 was due on or before July 1, 1789. Each of the 13 states was billed different amounts. While Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia had the largest bills, Nathaniel Gilman's New Hampshire had the 4th smallest bill at $59,258; only Georgia, Delaware, and Rhode Island owed less than New Hampshire. (See attached for a copy of the original Congressional Resolutions.)

 

Arthur Lee came from a politically influential Virginia family; his older brothers Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794), Francis Lightfoot Lee (1734-1797), and William Lee (1739-1795) were important figures in the Revolutionary War and early Republican eras. Arthur Lee found his true niche in American diplomacy. During the Revolutionary War, Lee served as an American agent tasked with ascertaining if European powers approved of American independence. Between 1782-1785, Lee served as a delegate to the Continental Congress; between 1784-1789, he served on the Treasury Board.

 

Nathaniel Gilman was the younger brother of rare Constitution signer Nicholas Gilman, Jr. (1755-1814). Like Lee, Gilman came from a politically active family. His father, Nicholas Gilman, Sr. (1731-1783) had served as New Hampshire's first state treasurer; Gilman's brothers Nicholas and John Taylor Gilman (1753-1828) were both delegates to the Continental Congress. Nicholas later served as a Congressman and Senator from New Hampshire, and John Taylor as Governor of New Hampshire.

 

Nathaniel Gilman fought during the Revolutionary War between 1776-1778 before being invalided out of the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment. As we know, he acted as New Hampshire's state loans commissioner during the 1780s, but declined George Washington's federal appointment in 1790.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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