Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) to Maunsel White
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05614 Author/Creator: Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845) Place Written: Hermitage, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 January 1842 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket : free frank ; 25.3 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Jackson writes from Hermitage, his estate. Thanks White for a recent present of "sugar, syrup & oranges," characterizing the oranges as "the finest I ever saw." Expresses relief that White's family escaped a dreadful disease that swept through New Orleans the previous summer (possibly yellow fever). Assures White he (Jackson) will be a good host to White's British friend Joseph Courey, should Courey decide to call. Discusses business pertaining to a cotton shipment. Writes, "Our situation with England at present is critical. But a firm & energetic course if adopted by our Government will soon bring her to her senses- if she at once was told to restore the negroes taken from the Creole, or reprisals would be forthwith made... haughty Britain would yield to our demands & hereafter act justly by us- a temporising policy will never attain Justice from England..." (Britain took black slaves from the Creole, a ship). Regrets the "gloom" of the current cotton market. Mentions having two "severe attacks" the previous summer, from which he is still recovering. Per the Jackson Papers, the letter was written in 1842; Jackson has misdated it as 1841.
Per the Jackson Papers, the letter should be dated 1842. White was a New Orleans commission merchant and planter.
[draft]
Hermitage
Col Maunsel White, -
January 1st 1841 [sic] -
My Dear Sir,
I am in receipt of your much esteemed favour of December 8th [Deer Range], and that of the 17th of Decbr Neworleans, bearing evidence of your continued liberalityt and remmembrance of me - your kind present of sugar, syrop & oranges has been received, for which receive my thanks, and gratefull feelings. The oranges, are the finest I ever saw, and being the growth of your plantation, as well as the sugar and syrop, makes the present doubly valuable.
I sincerely rejoice to learn that you and family enjoy health, and that you all escaped the visitation of that dreadful disease that proved so fatal to so many of your citizens the [last] summer. May a kind providence continue your health & life and that of your family for many years to come, and surround you with all the blessings this world can afford.
Should [inserted: your] friend from England, Sir Joseph [De] Courey, honor me with a call, you may be assured I will receive him with kindness, and [extend] to him all the hospitality the Hermitage can afford.
We have received from your House the amount [2] amount of roles of 30 Bales of cotton shipped from our plantation on the Missippi and have full confidence that the best has been done with it that the market would [aford]. I had a hope that it would have been in our power ere this to have had our crop here, and that below, in your [hand], but have been disappointed in a steamer to take it to you. We have now the promise of the steamboat Cumberland and hope to have it shipped to you, and on its way by the the [sic] 4th instant. By the Boat on which we ship our cotton I will enclose a [strikeout] all bill for supplies, and write you again.
Our situation with England at present is critical. But a firm & energetic course if adopted by our Government will soon bring her to her senses, - If she at once was told to restore the negroes taken from the Creole, or reprisals would be forthwith made, and a pledge on the part of Britain demanded that the like infringment upon our national rights should not again be repeated, and that if indemnity for the past & a pledge for the future was not given, that we would at once batten down the forts of [Her] Island, and make reprisals, haughty Britain would yield to our demands & hereafter act Justly by us - a [temporising] policy will never [3] attain Justice from England - the motto should be, Justice to all nations, permitting injury from none. The sufferings of the labouring class in England &c &c, so great and must end in revolution. I regret the gloom that hangs over our cotton markets, but I hope for the best, and only can rely upon the shortness of the crop to give us a markett for our cotton, and to your Judgment we leave the time to sell ours.
My health has been had, I have had two severe attacks the last summer, from which [text loss] slowly recovering.
I wrote with some dificulty owing [text loss] so [text loss]. Wishing you the Joys of the season & all the happiness this world can afford, believe me your sincere friend
Andrew Jackson
[address]
Col Maunsil White
Merchant
New, orleans
[docket]
Gl Andrew Jackson
Jany 1st & April 21st
1841
[free frank]
Free
Andrew Jackson
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