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Document 78928

JAMES MADISON
Free frank and letter to the Collector of the Port of New York forwarding something to Nova Scotia.
Third Person ALS: "J. Madison", free franked: "Free/James Madison", half-page, 8¼x10. The former fourth U.S. President writes, in full: "J. Madison presents his respects to Mr. Gelston and requests that he will forward the enclosed to Halifax N.S. by some early conveyance." Franked on verso and addressed by Madison to: "David Gelston Esqr/Collector/New York". Docket dated: "5 June 1817". Manuscript postal markings: "Orange/June 5th". Madison had been retired from the presidency for three months at his estate, Montpelier in Orange County, Virginia, when he wrote this letter. While the contents of Madison's "enclosed" are not known, it is possible that he knew members of the government and citizens of the British colony, Nova Scotia. During the Revolutionary War period, about 35,000 British colonists in America refused to take up arms against England and settled in Nova Scotia; Halifax is the capital of the colony. During the War of 1812, President Madison had dealt with specific concerns of Nova Scotia, including ordering safe passage for all vessels bound for Sable Island on humanitarian missions. Sable Island, about 90 miles east of Nova Scotia, was in the North Atlantic shipping lane between North America and Europe. DAVID GELSTON, the Collector of the Port of New York from 1801-1820, had served in the Provincial Congress (1775-1777) and the Continental Congress (1789). Horizontal fold through "J" and "M" of Madison's signature in text and vertical fold through "m" of James in franking signature. Show through, lightly creased. Tear and portions removed at left and right blank margins when letter was opened at the wax seal.

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