MARGUERITE-LOUIS-FRANC¸OIS DUPORT-DUTERTRE (1754-1793).  Duport-Dutertre was a French lawyer who served as the Minister of Justice from 1790 to 1792.  He was beheaded in 1793.

ALS. 1pg. 7” x 9”. December 15^th. No place.  An autograph letter signed “D”.  The French letter translates to: “I am at home in a meeting with Monsieur Delessert and the directors of the Water Company, which will probably keep me until 11 o’clock.   My [wife?] would be bothered by waiting, and perhaps she would be uncomfortable being seen.   If she could come at 11 o’clock, she would not be [kept waiting?] all alone, which would trouble me greatly.  D Today 15th December at 9:30  Monsieur de Sch[roeufer?]”.  There are pencil notations and the condition is fine.

BRITISH GENERAL ALEXANDER LINDSAY, EARL OF BALCARRES, SELLS PENNSYLVANIA BONDS

ALEXANDER LINDSAY, 6^TH EARL OF BALCARRES (1752-1825). Balcarres was a British nobleman and Army General. He fought for the British in the American Revolution.

DS. 2pgs. June 14, 1804. [London]. A partly-printed document signed “Balcarres”. The Earl of Balcarres makes a financial transaction involving Pennsylvania bonds. This was something of a surprising choice for a British man who once fought against the United States during the Revolution. He made this transaction while living in London; having returned there after a stint as Governor of Jamaica. “Know all Men by these Presents, That I Alexander, Earl of Balcarres, of Haigh in the Count of Lancaster, in Great Britain (but at present in London) for Value, received, have bargained, sold, assigned, and set over; and by these Presents do bargain, sell, assign, and set over unto John Bowden Crewsell of Exeter Merchant his Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars of the funded six per Cent stock, standing in my name in the Books of the United States Loan Office for the State of Pennsylvania, being the amount of two Certificates thereof, No. 1470 and 1475 for Five Thousand Dollars each granted by Stephen Moylan Commissioner and I do hereby ordain, make, constitute, and appoint Henry Thuhl by assistant cashier of the Bank of the United States or his Successor in Office my true and lawful Attorney, for me and in my Name, to transfer unto the said John Bowden Creswell the abovementioned sum of Ten Thousand Dollars of the said stock with Power to my said Attorney to substitute an Attorney or Attornies, under him for that purpose, and to do all lawful Acts requisite for effecting the Premises; hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney, or his Substitute or Substitutes shall do therein, by Virtue of these presents. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, the Fourteenth Day of June in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and forty. Balcarres…”. The document is also signed by several witnesses on both recto and verso. The document is in very good condition with minor toning and residue from several wax seals.  An interesting piece of financial history.

RECEIPT WRITTEN BY BRITISH ARTIST JOHN FLAXMAN FOR PAYMENT MADE BY JOHN NOURSE, AN ENGLISH BOOKSELLER AND FRIEND OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

JOHN FLAXMAN, SR. (1726-1803).  Flaxman was a British artist and sculptor.

ADS.  pg. 5” x 7”. August 16, 1763. An autograph document signed “John Flaxman” indicating the sale of a bust by to “Mr. Nourse”. The receipt lists the cost of the bust and related packing box, and notes that payment was duly received.  The receipt is in fine condition.

FLAXMAN BILLS A NOBLEMAN FOR HIS STATUE OF ZINGARA

JOHN FLAXMAN, SR. (1726-1795).  Flaxman, Sr. was an English sculptor and plastermaker. 

ADS. 1pg. 8” x 4”. May 23, 1783. No place.  An autograph document signed “J Flaxman” two times.  He wrote “Sir John Seabright to J Flaxman…A Bust of Zingara Received in full of all demand by J Flaxman”.  It is in fine condition.

ENGLISH RADICAL JOURNALIST AND POLITICAL WRITER BENJAMIN FLOWER WRITES TO CADELL & DAVIES PUBLISHING COMPANY IN SEARCH OF ADAM SMITH’S WEALTH OF NATIONS

BENJAMIN FLOWER (1755-1829). Flower was a journalist, publisher, and political commentator known for his controversial views. A supporter of republicanism abroad, but not at home, he opposed Britain’s role in the Napoleonic Wars and was jailed six months for criticism in his newspaper against a bishop.

ALS. 2 pg. 8” x 10”. October 11, 1800. Cambridge. An autographed letter signed by “B Flower” to “Gentlm”: “I will thank you to find me Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations 3V. bds. Send them directly to Crosby & Litterman’s Hatoners Court indicated for me. If you do not favour me with any Adverts I will order your payment for the above, but I am sure it would be for your Advantage occasionally to advertise in my paper. I would take the whole out in brooks. You will charge me the lowest Trade Price”. Included is an envelope indicating that this letter was sent to Cadell & Davies, a publishing company established in London in 1793 by Thomas Cadell, a successful 18^th century book publisher, and his apprentice, William Davies. Adam Smith published The Wealth of Nations in 1776, a magnum opus that pioneered the modern study of economics. In reflecting upon economics at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the book introduced concepts like division of labor, productivity, and free markets and discussions on how nations build wealth. In 1800, the conservative British newspaper The Anti-Jacobin Review issued a blistering editorial against the book, to which Flower, in asking for a copy of the book, was likely going to respond to in his paper, the Cambridge Intelligencer. Given that his paper relied on advertisements, Flower had no qualms about using this request to also solicit financial support from the publishers. A transcription is included and the letter and envelope are in fine condition with light spotting.

TWO WEEKS AFTER THE BATTLEOF TORGAU, FREDERIC THE GREAT THANKS A WOMAN FOR HER KIND WORDS ABOUT “THE GREAT VICTORY OVER MY ENEMIES THAT PROVIDENCE KINDLY GRANTED ME”

FREDERIC THE GREAT OF PRUSSIA (1712-1786).  Frederic ascended to the throne in 1740 and promptly started the War of Austrian Succession, which he won.  In the Seven Years War, he defeated France and Austria after the Russians withdrew from the conflict.  Domestically, Frederic established many legal reforms and religious tolerance.

LS. 1pg. 7 ¾” x 9 ½”. November 11, 1760. Meissen [Germany].  A letter signed “Frederic” addressed to Margrave Henry: “I am delighted to see from your letter, dated the 6^th of this month that you are taking part in the great victory over my enemies that Providence kindly granted me on the 3^rd of this month. I thank you from the bottom of my heart…”.  The Battle of Torgau took place on November 3, 1760.  During the Seven Years War, it pitted Frederic the Great with 44,000 men against an Austrian army of 65,000 soldier led by Marshal von Daun.  In a costly and bloody battle, Frederic’s forces emerged victorious.  The letter is inlaid and is in very fine condition with dark ink.

FREDERIC THE GREAT OF PRUSSIA (1712-1786).  Frederic ascended to the throne in 1740 and promptly started the War of Austrian Succession, which he won.  In the Seven Years War, he defeated France and Austria after the Russians withdrew from the conflict.  Domestically, Frederic established many legal reforms and religious tolerance.

LS. 1pg. 7 ¾” x 9 ½”. November 11, 1760. Meissen [Germany].  A letter signed “Frederic” addressed to Margrave Henry: “I am delighted to see from your letter, dated the 6^th of this month that you are taking part in the great victory over my enemies that Providence kindly granted me on the 3^rd of this month. I thank you from the bottom of my heart…”.  The Battle of Torgau took place on November 3, 1760.  During the Seven Years War, it pitted Frederic the Great with 44,000 men against an Austrian army of 65,000 soldier led by Marshal von Daun.  In a costly and bloody battle, Frederic’s forces emerged victorious.  The letter is inlaid and is in very fine condition with dark ink.