Lot 193
[Washington, George]. Some separation at corner folds, with a small area of paper loss where the seal has been broken, otherwise fine. Custis, George Washington Parke
1781-1857. The stepson of George Washington. Owing to the early death of his father, he grew up under the charge of Washington at Mount Vernon, where he lived until the death of Mrs. Washington. A colonel in the US Army, he became an aide-de-camp to General Charles Pickney. Father-in-law of Robert E. Lee, thus linking the two great generals in a family tie. Author of "Conversations with Lafayette," recording Lafayette's visit to the United States in 1824, and a series of recollections of Washington, as well as numerous plays.
Autograph Letter Signed. Two pages, Quarto, with integral address leaf, Arlington House, December 14, 1850. Marvelous letter in which this practiced raconteur answers queries about the founding fathers use of tobacco. Washington's stepson writes, in part:
"My Dear Sir In answer to the queries contained in yr letter, I have to reply, that Washington never used Tobacco in any way whatever, & condemed its use by others. When holding councils with delegations from Indian Tribes, their Great Father was compelled to take a single whiff of the Pipe of Peace, altho' it never suited [?] him very much.
"With Adams, Jefferson, Madison, & Monroe, I had the honor of an intimate acquaintance & saw much of them all, in my early life. I have no recollection of either [sic] of these illustrious individuals being in the habit of using tobacco. Some perhaps occasionally the Snuff Box. Indeed chewing was by no means a gentlemanly habit under the old Regime [.] the sugar was unknown, & the smoking of the pipe principally confined to elderly persons… The snuff box was an appendage to genteel society in the olden times, yet I only remember two individuals who were excessive snuffers in the days between 20 and 60 years ago…The money paid for Tobacco to be used by the 23 millions of the modern United States in the next ten years would make a rail road from New York to San Francisco, & secure the mighty trade of China & the East Indies."
Fine.
Estimated Value $1,250 - 1,750.
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