HENRY CLAY AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED
Washington, D.C. 1850. ALS signed “H. Clay,” one page one side, 7.75 x 9.8 inches, April 25, 1850. With two horizontal folds, upper third separated, lower fold partially separated; VG-; Sent to Thomas B Stevenson Esq.;
Text in full: "I received your favor of the 14th instant. In [unknown] to your desire to engage some of the letter writers to write occasionally for your paper, I regret that my acquaintances with that [unknown] of [unknown] is very limited. Mr. J. E. Harvey and Mr. Francis J. Grand stay at the same hotel that I do. The former you know as "Independent" of the [unknown] American, and I presume the later too by reputation. He is admitted to be one of the best letter writers; and he (Mr. Grand) has just now taken a wonderful liking to me. He offered to write for you for nothing, but I told him that would not do, and that you and he must adjust the [unknown] he do. And there I leave it. The rumors so rife of Cabinet changes a week or two ago have ceased, and of present there is no left of any. It is said that the President told the Cabinet that he liked them very much, and they told him that they liked him very much, and so they agreed that they would not dispose that union. Most people believe however that [unknown] long a change will be made. In the meantime there is very little concert + cooperation between the Capital + the White House.";
CX consignment; shelved Case 7.
1346934
Shelved Dupont Bookstore
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NOTES
The Galphin Affair, referenced here as the Cabinet rumors, refers to the scandal in which Secretary of War G. W. Crawford used his influence to settle a claim he had served as lawyer to before being appointed. He convinced the Secretary of the Treasury as well as the Attorney General to pay out a sum of over $194,000, of which he himself was entitled to half, or over $94,000. The decision was made in April of 1850, and paid out on May 2. While President Taylor's Cabinet remained stable during his entire presidency, he passed away after only serving 16 months. Upon taking office, Fillmore proceeded to dismiss Taylor's entire cabinet, including Crawford.