Autographs
1809 Letter to President James Madison where Seth Ford Asks Madison to Partner With Him in a Secret Gold Mine !
(PRESIDENT JAMES MADISON,) (1751-1836), Founding Father who served as the 4th President of the United States (1809 to 1817); hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
October 23, 1809-Dated Federal Period, Extraordinary Unusual Content Autograph Letter Signed, "Seth Ford" of Cummington, Mass., to President James Madison (Not signed by Madison), regarding a Secret Gold Mine, and Asking the President to Go Partners With Him, Choice Very Fine. An original Handwritten Letter, sent from Cummington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, 1 pg., measuring 7-5/8" x 9-7/8", from a Seth Ford, to President James Madison, America's fourth President (1809-1817), informing of the a gold mine he learned about "in a singular way", which now can't be found by anyone but himself, which is a great distance from him, and asks Madison "if you have a desire to own it with me", and if not, if he thinks the Government will. He asks Madison to "keep it secret between us", and for an exchange of a few letters before he will come to see him personally. A strange but intriguing content original Letter sent to President Madison. Appears slightly trimmed at the margins, boldly written in deep vivid brown on clean laid period paper.
This Letter reads, in full (spelling corrected):
"President Madison Sir,
I humbly ask your pardon to overlook my weak abilities in the indictment of this letter. My mind leads me to write to you concerning my business, as it is of great importance for earthy vanity and I desire to have you keep it secret between us till such time as I wish to have it known. You may depend I am really honest and I believe sure in the business concerning a gold mine in a singular way I found out of a gentleman that his acquaintance got some of the ore and had it refin'd and it yeild'd very profitable indeed and now it can't be found by them nor any person but myself and I can go to it at any time though it is a great distance from me.
It is in North America but not in the United States, unless it is a very late purchase. As I am informed land must first be purchased by our government and then by individuals, it is my desire you would not slight me, for I am well satisfy'd there is a fortune to be made in this way for me and others if they wish for it. If you have a desire to own it with me it is well and if you have not and you think Government will when it is made sure to me with a part of the profits as is right for me to have, then I will make it known where it is and not before and I desire to have you write a letter to me as quick as possible and if you write favorable for the business after a few times writing each other's mind, if I live and have my health, I shall come and see you as soon as it is best for the business. -- So I'll conclude, your humble Servt, - (Signed)
Seth Ford".
Provenance: From the James Madison papers offered for sale in 1894 by Edward Boker Sterling (1851-1925), a stamp, coin and autograph dealer of Trenton, NJ.