RICHARD HENRY DANA JR. - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 11/28/1874 - HFSID 3481

RICHARD HENRY DANA, JR.
Dana handwrote, signed and dated this letter in 1874 about the difficulties a "Mr. Nied" was having in finding a book at a library and to give some suggestions on how to help him. With penciled corrections in Dana's hand.
Autograph letter signed: "R. H. Dana jr", 2 pages, 4½x7. 1874 December 21. Addressee is illegible. In full (with penciled corrections): "Devlin My [illegible] friend, Mr. [illegible] Nied, (whom I take leave to introduce to Jon) has been to the Library to find Dr Percy's ([illegible]) Mettalurgy [sic] of Iron, Copper & Lead. - but does not find it. It occurs to me that [illegible] may here later men. than the catalogue, or may be able to refer Mr. Nied to it elsewhere, if it is not in the library. Mr. Nied is a mining engineer, and hes [sic] studied in Berlin, Freiburg & elsewhere. He has been a German translator of their work. Yours very truly". Son of a prominent Boston family, Dana (1815-1882) interrupted a Harvard education to enlist as a common merchant seaman. Two Years Before the Mast (1841), based on his diary, is a classic account of life at sea and of the California coast in the 1830s. Dana returned to graduate from Harvard, becoming an expert on maritime law and a champion of the rights of seamen. Dana also wrote The Seaman's Friend (1841), which included a section on maritime law and the rights and duties of seamen. Active in politics, he helped found the Free-Soil Party (1848) and gave free legal aid to blacks captured under the Fugitive Slave Law. Lightly toned, soiled and creased. Handwriting and signature are lightly smeared in places but legible. Random ink stains. Mounting remnant at top left corner of page 2. Right corners are missing from page 2. Light tear at top of page 2. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise, fine condition.