Auction Name: 2026 June 19 The John H. Freund Americana Collection Signature® Auction

Lot Number: 42054

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/6331*42054

Tobias Lear Autograph Letter Signed ("Tobias Lear"). Three pages of a bifolium, 7 3/4 x 9 7/8 inches; "Dept of War Accounts Office" [Washington D.C.]; July 16, 1816. Docketed on the verso.

Lear writes to Lt. V. V. Baden, reviewing disbursements and demanding clarification, proper documentation, and correction of questionable charges, in part:

"Sir

Your letter of the 12th Inst. has been received, accompanied by amounts for disbursements which you have made in the name of Capt. Joseph H. Rees...

Before proceeding to state these amounts, it becomes necessary to know what understanding there was between yourself & Capt Rees...It may be proper however to inform you that in doing so you will be chargeable with $31,030.20, that being the correct balance found against him...

The vouchers which you will find enclosed are not satisfactory - If you have not the means of ascertaining yourself whether James Walker was not paid for part of the services...you must get Walker's deposition to that effect -

The allowance made John Crumpton for extra labour exceeds the regulations -

The payment you have made Michael Jenkins for mahogany, and for a Table and Book Case, amounting to Drs 57.50 is considered inadmissible without the sanction of the Secretary of War.

The payment of Drs 100 to Lewis Hait for two months rent of a building for an Armory appears very high, and requires a Certificate of the occupancy of the building, and a statement of the cause which led to the renting of it -

The payment made S. Oliver, of Drs 35, is not witnessed -

I beg that this communication may receive your immediate attention - and that the same vouchers now enclosed, may be returned by you, where corrected.

Respectfully,
Your Obedt Serv.
Tobias Lear."

A full transcript of the letter is available in the lot's extended description online.

By 1816, Lear had taken on a senior administrative role in the federal government following his earlier diplomatic service in the Mediterranean. After returning from Algiers, where he had served as Consul General and negotiated the 1805 treaty with Tripoli, he was appointed to the War Department, where he was involved in the settlement and review of military accounts. The end of the War of 1812 left the department with substantial financial obligations and widespread irregularities in contractor and officer accounts. Letters such as this one show the process of auditing those expenditures and enforcing uniform standards across the department.

Condition: Very good. Expected folds with minor age-toning and light, scattered staining; some minor edgewear commensurate with age and handling. Approximately 3 1/2" separation at upper margin and 1 3/4" separation at lower margin of integral fold. Three small holes along the left margin from being previously thread bound. Overall a very well-preserved example.

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