Auction Name: 2026 February 26 Historical Manuscripts & Texana Signature® Auction

Lot Number: 47088

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/6328*47088

Charles Thomson Letter Signed. Two pages, 7 3/4 x 9 1/4 inches, "Secretary's Office of Congress," [New York]; July 28, 1780. An interesting Revolutionary War-era circular from Thomson, the Secretary of the Continental Congress, addressed to Caesar Rodney, President of Delaware. Written at a time when the young nation depended heavily on privately armed vessels to challenge British naval power, the letter describes a new act of Congress placing the issuance of privateer commissions under Thomson's office. In full:

"I have the honor to enclose you an act of Congress passed yesterday by which you perceive that commissions &c for private armed vessels are to issue from this office. In consequence thereof I embrace the earliest opportunity of forwarding to you for the use of your State ten blank commissions, bonds and instructions as agreed to the 2d day of May last, and have it in charge to inform you that it is the intention of Congress that all commissions and instructions in force on the 2d of May last be cancelled as soon as possible and that commissions bonds and instructions of the new form be substituted in the place thereof.

You will please to order the bonds when executed to be returned into this office. When more commissions &c are wanted for your State they shall on the first notice be forwarded by."

Signed, "Cha Thomson."

In 1780, the Continental Navy remained far smaller than the Royal Navy, making privately armed vessels essential to American naval strategy. Congress therefore moved to regulate privateering more closely, passing acts such as the one Thomson mentions here, requiring standardized commissions to ensure coordination among the states and their marine forces.

Condition: Lightly toned with smoothed folds. A few minor instances of ink blotting, not affecting legibility of text; two minor chips at the bottom of the right edge. Two small pieces of mylar tacked to verso.

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