Item #45263 [ALS] Lynde Walter Contends That Claims For the Quasi-War with France Should Be Paid in Two Years, Rather Than Three. Quasi-war. Claims, Lynde Walter.

[ALS] Lynde Walter Contends That Claims For the Quasi-War with France Should Be Paid in Two Years, Rather Than Three.

Boston: 1832. [3] pp. Bifolium. 7.75 x 12.5 inches. Very good, folded, torn at seal, minor soiling, contents clean. Item #45263

Letter dated March 12, 1832 from Lynde Walter (1767-1844) with integral address to Congressman Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn (1783-1851), US Representative from Massachusetts, pertaining to the claims arising out of the undeclared Quasi-War with France, which had taken place decades prior (1797-1800), and resulted in the Convention of 1800, or the Treaty of Mortefontaine. Lynde Walter had previously served as a Massachusetts Representative (1811-1816; 1821-1824), as well as a delegate at Massachusetts 1820 Constitutional Convention, and had later, according to this letter, been involved with the Danish Commission.

In his correspondence, Walter contends that these claims should be paid in two years, rather than the intended three. "I have commenced with several of our Offices who are interested in this Treaty, largely, as well as with many private Underwriters & Merchants, who all agree that the time is too long, for several reasons," including the welfare of the beneficiaries, the "thousands of Widows & Orphans, now in the Land of the living who are in great want of the ... aid this Treaty will give to them. - but if you procrastinate the Day & payment three years they will be already gone and this great deed of Charity to them will be without beneficial Effects." Walter further posits that the delay in processing these claims will result in great losses and draws from his experience working with the Danish Commission. "You would be astonished to notice in a heavy policy of 30 or 40 thousand dollars, as was often the case when Brooks & several others kept private Offices. what a large proportion of the Underwriters are gone hence *frequently more than half*, and not only they but their Executors or Administrators, and everyday increases the Catalogue of the Dead - & the Sums they have been anticipating for the comfort of their families is still in doubt and all that they know of the course of the Policy or the Voyage is lost and forgotten."

Price: $135.00