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Louisiana Territory. ...
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Description
Fine 1795 letter on Spanish encroachment into U.S. Territory including reports of the famous New Orleans fire
Louisiana Territory. A very fine content letter written by
U.S. Army Captain R. Bird to Major John Mills reporting on Spanish
encroachments into United States territory during Anglo-Spanish
negotiations on the subject. ALS, 2 pages, 6" x 7.5", "Fort
Knox" [Vincennes], August 23, 1795, to Mills, stationed at
Greenville in present-day Ohio. Bird reports that "...Bardon
arrived yesterday from Lanslagrass he brings accounts of the
Spaniards advancing their posts into our Territory they have lately
built one of Cannon proof at the Chickasaw Bluff and Garrisoned it
with 700 men and are immediately to build another higher up the
river within fifteen miles of the Ohio where Genl.. Clark once
built a fort -- it is hard to conjecture what will be the
consequences whether our Government will tamely put up with it and
endeavour to Remove it by negotiation or whether it will be
business for our Army after the pending Treaty-- I should be more
full but as this is the subject of the express you will no doubt
receive the particulars from the Genl..." At the time of
writing, the United States and Spain were involved in negotiations
over a treaty of amity and commerce, which was concluded on October
27, 1795, at San Lorenzo el Real. The treaty, ratified by Congress
the following year, fixed the western boundary of the United States
at the Mississippi River, and specifically "...in the middle of the
channel or bed of the River Mississipi [sic]..." which allowed both
nations to navigate this most important trade route. The treaty
also guaranteed "right of deposit" for American traders in New
Orleans, which was controlled entirely by Spain. In other news,
Bird reports on the great New Orleans fire of 1795: "They have
had a tremendous fire lately in New Orleans which blew up their
Magazin[e] Killed 300 people and burned half the town."
This was the second major fire in New Orleans in the space of a
decade, the first in 1788, destroyed 856 buildings. It was after
the second fire that Spanish authorities banned wooden housing
construction in the city. A very fine content letter illustrating
the American view of Spain as a rival in exploiting the Mississippi
Valley and the uncertainty felt by those charged with guarding
America's western frontier. Usual folds, several minor marginal
tears, very lightly toned, else fine condition.
Auction Info
2008 June Grand Format Books & Manuscripts Auction #683 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2008
4th-5th
Wednesday-Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 3
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 645
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid per lot.
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