Raynors HCA 2019-05
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/30/2019
A war-date Southern "gentleman's" letter, 1p. oblong 8vo., by a certain Martin Harrison, Leesburg, Va., Feb. 2, 1864[5], to "Dear Madam", reading, in part: "…I send you $100 in Southern Bank Notes. If I could…I would cheerfully pay you the residue in Federal money, but all my means are & have been Southern. I have no means of making federal money and to obtain it I would have to buy it which…I am [not] morally bound to do…it is not my intention to refuse entirely to pay you federal money in whole or in part. It may so happen that I may be able to collect federal money in payments due to me. I may then be able to pay you in federal money, [but] at present I am not. I regret it, but cannot help it…M. Harrison." Oddly, the verso appears to be the "Dear Madam's" letter (draft-style) Written on the verso is a poorly penned, unsigned, letter with no place, dated August 15,1864, reading, in part: "Dear Sir, I wrote to you last winter. You were so circumstance as to be obliged to pay me money (depreciated) which could not assist me…in supplying the wants of my family. The payments from other gentlemen however relieved…my most pressing need…during these troubled times…I should like…current money and interest, if convenient to take a portion in groceries...I need scarcely repeat that my necessitates compel me reluctantly to apply to you…". We don't know why Mr. Harrison owed the money, but we can only imagine that he was doing his best to repay an outstanding debt with honor. Excepted folds, else VG
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