NOAH
WEBSTER. Autograph Letter Signed to William Cranch, New
Haven, CT, 20 October 1807. 1½ pages, 9½" x 8",
plus integral address leaf.
A fine
letter, filled with family news and political commentary, from this
American lexicographer, who had a long and varied career as a teacher,
grammarian, editor, essayist, lecturer, and author. By this date, Noah
Webster had already published three very successful teaching aids, his
American Spelling Book, American Grammar, and American
Reader. He was at work on the project for which he is best remembered,
his American Dictionary of the English Language, which was
over twenty-five years in the making and which he would finally publish
in 1828 at the age of 70.
Webster writes
here to his brother-in-law, William Cranch; the two men were related
through their wives, Rebecca and Nancy Greenleaf. Cranch was himself
a notable figure; a nephew of John Adams, he was a federal judge in
the District of Columbia from 1801 until his death in 1855, and he was
the reporter of decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1801 to 1815.
"As
we have not heard from you this summer, we presume you are in health
– & still resident in Washington – tho you might remove
to Asia & we not know it," Webster tweaks his relative.
"My own family have enjoyed tolerable health, & have escaped
any severe effects of the Influenza. – Mrs. Appleton
is with us – Nat[?] & his wife & Mary are with us on their
way to Baltimore, where they are to reside – What changes! the
family dispersed to the four winds of heaven! But such is the fate of
families, & we must acquiesce. Indeed what is lost by one branch
is gained by another – & you will rejoice to have some of
the connection within call."
A Federalist
in his politics, Webster turns to public affairs. "Connecticut
remains proof against disorganization – parties not having essentially
waned[?], within a year," he reports. "Our last vote
for rulers was a small one – owing to extraordinary circumstances
– the great rains of summer having retarded agricultural labors
beyond the usual period.
"Mr. Dana, elected Senator, in the place of Mr. Tracey, declined,
& Chauncey Goodrich is elected. This step of Mr. Dana was probably
intended to bring into the Senate a gentleman of talents & leave
the representation [i.e., the state's delegation to the House of Representatives]
entire. This is however my conjecture." His references are
to Samuel Dana, a Connecticut Congressman, who declined election to
the U.S. Senate to the seat previously held by Uriah Tracy.
The letter
has very slight soiling and marginal defects, and the address leaf has
some marginal tears, but overall, the piece is in very good condition.
$2500.00
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