THE LOST MINIATURE OF PATRICK HENRY

M. Emmet (American, 1736-1799)
Miniature watercolor on ivory; 33/8 x 27/16 inches. Signed diagonally, “M. Emmet,” right center. Early 19th century; excellent condition.

Included is an engraving identical to the miniature with the following legend below the portrait: “Engraved by E.
Wellmore from a Painting by J.B. Longacre after an Original Miniature in the possession of John S. Fleming of Virginia.” Some foxing on the engraving.

An extraordinarily fine example of what appears to be the lost miniature of Patrick Henry, an extremely rare subject in any form. According to the legend on the print, James Barton Longacre (1794-1869) created a painting after this very miniature. Patrick Henry, one of the firebrands of the American Revolution, urged military preparedness. He is best known for his speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses in Saint John’s Church, March 23, 1777, in which he uttered the immortal words, “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

RICHARD HENRY LEE AND JAMES LOVELL SEND COPIES
OF THE FRENCH TREATY TO JOHN LANGDON

RICHARD HENRY LEE. Signer of the Declaration from Virginia. LS, in the hand of James Lovell, who also signs this letter, 1p, large 4to, York Town [VA], May 1778. Addressed to “Honble John Langdon, Esq., Continental Agents, Portsmouth [NH],” bearing a manuscript “York Town May 19” postmark, which is unlisted in Phillips.

Important letter in which Lee and Lovell send dispatches destined for the U.S. Ministers in France. Because of the date, these were undoubtedly the treaties with France that had just been ratified by Congress. Of particular note is the phrase “...Your wisdom will dictate pointed orders...for sinking them in Case the Vessel should be unfortunately taken....” See my website www.brucegimelson.com for a more complete description and the price.

PRESIDENT JEFFERSON INTRODUCES THE SON OF HIS SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

Jefferson, Thomas. Third President of the United States (1743-1826, served 1801-09); Vice President under John Adams; first US Secretary of State; made the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon, doubling the nation’s size; principal author of the Declaration of Independence and one of its signers.

Fine Autograph Letter Signed “Th: Jefferson” as President, 1/2 p, 4to, no place, 4/10/1801. Just a month after his inauguration, the new president writes US Consul Fulwar Skipwith in Paris, “The bearer hereof, Mr. Louis Buchanan Smith, son of Gen’l. [Robert] Smith now acting as Secretary of the Navy, proposing to visit Europe, I take the liberty of introducing him to your civilities & services. His personal merit will do justice to any attentions you shall be pleased to shew him, & his station & prospects in life render it interesting that he should derive from his travels all the advantages they are capable of yielding. The state of my acquaintance in France, at present, not enabling me to give him letters, I will ask the favor of you to supply for him that deficiency....” Tipped at left edge to a slightly larger sheet. With holograph integral address panel, Skipwith’s docket, and a curious identification in pen on verso that Jefferson was vice president. From 1784-89, Jefferson had been minister plenipotentiary to France and built numerous friendships, but the Reign of Terror that followed the French Revolution, and Napoleon’s 1789 coup, had radically changed the social landscape. The United States did not have a full minister in France at the time of this letter. James A. Bayard had been offered the post by outgoing President John Adams in February, but did not wish to seem the recipient of a political reward, since he had cast the vote that broke the deadlock between Jefferson and Aaron Burr when the 1800 election had been thrown into the House of Representatives. Robert Livingston was appointed later in 1801 and in 1803-4 would help negotiate the Louisiana Purchase. Robert Smith, Louis’s father, would officially become Secretary of the Navy in July and was later James Madison’s Secretary of State.