GEORGE BANCROFT - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 12/10/1858 CO-SIGNED BY: ELIZABETH BANCROFT - HFSID 33723
Price: $450.00
GEORGE BANCROFT and ELIZABETH BANCROFT
The Secretary of the Navy wrote this letter discussing changes in the English language in
1858. Accompanied by a handwritten dinner invitation from his second wife to the wife
of Senator George F. Edmunds.
Autograph letter signed "Geo Bancroft". 3 pages, 4½x7¼, 1 sheet folded, front and verso. New
York, Dec. 10, 1858. In full: "To [illegible], We expect you, my dear sir, on Tuesday next at
5½ to dine. After leaving you I got Halliwell 3d Ed. & Wright. Neither has [illegible] as a man
of the masculine gender was good English in Henry VIII's time : is in neither dictionary now. Nor
in Taft, nor in Webster. It would be very [illegible] to see together a bit of words in the Bible now
obsolete; & [illegible] [illegible] of them so much the better. The laws affecting the changes in
language would appear. The public is much interested in your speculations & inquiries &
[illegible] will compete for being your publisher. Best regards to Mrs Marsh. Very truly yours".
Postscripted: "The English use or did use much the phrase out of doors, too what was said
[illegible] is the House of Commons." Lightly toned. Show-through from adhesive and writing,
which touches body of letter but not signature. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise in fine
condition. Accompanied by: Autograph letter signed "Elisabeh Bancroft". 2 pages, 4x6, 1 sheet
folded, front and verso. Written on "Jan. 15". In full: "My dear Mrs Edmunds Will you and
the Senator give us the pleasure of your company at dinner on Wednesday next at half past six,
o'clock. You will meet only Mr Freemem the English historian and his wife with Mr & Mrs
Henry Adams. Hoping that you will be able to grant out petition I am yours most truly". Lightly
toned, soiled and creased. Body of letter, but not signature, is lightly smeared in places but
legible. Light tear at bottom left corner of page 2. Folded in half and unfolded. Otherwise in
fine condition. Both letters are affixed to a 5¼x7½ sheet of paper. "Elizabeh Bancroft" is
George Bancroft's second wife, whom he married after the death of his first wife Sarah Davis
in 1837. "Mrs Edmunds" is probably SUSAN MARSH EDMUNDS, the wife of GEORGE
F. EDMUNDS (1828-1919) represented Vermont in the U.S. Senate from April 3, 1866
until his resignation on Nov. 1, 1891. He served as President Pro Tempore of the Senate
from 1883 to 1885 when, with no Vice President after Garfield's assassination, he was
next in line to the Presidency. He was also a member of the Electoral Commission that
decided the hotly contested election of 1876 - a squeaker with only one electoral vote
between Republican victor Rutherford B. Hayes and Democratic Samuel J. Tilden, who won
the popular vote. Historian GEORGE BANCROFT (1800-1891) is best known
for his ten-volume History of the United States (1834-1873). Bancroft wrote
well, and was accurate with his facts, but had a partisan viewpoint. (He was a
Jacksonian Democrat, although one opposed to slavery). As President James K.
Polk's first Secretary of the Navy (1845-1846), Bancroft established the U.S.
Naval Academy at Annapolis, finding the funds for the institution in his budget
before Congress had authorized its creation. As Acting Secretary of War (1846),
he issued orders to General Zachary Taylor to advance into territory disputed
with Mexico, a move which triggered the Mexican War.He later served as the
U.S. Minister to Great Britain (1846-1849), Prussia (1867-1871) and Germany
(1871-1874). Two Items.
Following offer submission users will be contacted at their account email address within 48 hours. Our response will be to accept your offer, decline your offer or send you a final counteroffer. All offers can be viewed from within the "Offer Review" area of your HistoryForSale account. Please review the Make Offer Terms prior to making an offer.
If you have not received an offer acceptance or counter-offer email within 24-hours please check your spam/junk email folder.