Autographs
FOUR Letters Sent to Dolley Madison as First Lady - One by Marine Corps Commandant William Burrows Placing a "Boat & Hands" at Her disposal, Plus a Mrs. Smith asks to meet Thomas Jefferson and much more Choice Content, etc.
(DOLLEY PAYNE MADISON) (1768-1849). First Lady being the wife of fourth President James Madison, President of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Dolley Madison did much to define the role of the President's spouse, known only much later by the title First Lady, she helped to furnish the newly constructed White House. When the British set fire to it in 1814, she was credited with saving the classic Gilbert Stuart Lansdowne Portrait of George Washington when she directed her personal slave Paul Jennings to save it during the British attack.
Collection of Four Choice Content Brief Letters or Notes made to Dolley Madison as First Lady, Not Signed by Dolley Madison, one arranging a Meeting with Thomas Jefferson, Sending her Magazines, and Accepting an Invitations, Fine to Very Fine. Collection of Four original manuscript Letters or Notes made to Dolley Madison, (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). Measure from 4-1/2" x 7-1/2" to 5" x 8". All are written & Signed in the 3rd Person by the originators, some minor small stains and wrinkling. One with Integral Transmittal portion to Dolley Madison. One is dated 1811, when Dolley Madison was First Lady; the others are undated, but are to her as First Lady or before (when her husband was Secretary of State).
Lot Includes:
1. From "Col. Burrows" - William Ward Burrows, (1758-1805), Commandant of the Marine Corps, appointed by President John Adams in 1798, putting a "boat and hands" at her disposal:

"Colo. Burrows's respects to Mrs. Madison, informing her that the Boat & Hands are all ready, and is only sorry that so fine a day should be missed. Whenever it shall please Mrs. Madison or her Party to go on the water, the Boat & Hands shall be at her Command. Miss Burrows will hope for the Honor of her Company at Tea, this afternoon."
2. From Mrs. A. Smith, asking Mrs. Madison for the best time to pay her respects to Thomas Jefferson - undated, but likely dates from when James Madison was Jefferson's Sec. of State:
"A. Smith's affectionate Compt's await Mrs. Madison, and wishes to be informed, what hour will be the most proper to pay her respects to Mr. Jefferson. A.S. requests Mrs. Madison to present her Compt's, & those of her Daughter, to Mr. Madison, & Miss Paine" [Payne]
3. From Mr. Lee accepting an invitation: "Mr. Lee accepts with great pleasure Mrs. Madison's Polite invitation for tomorrow Even'g."
4. From Mr. Foster, dated at Georgetown, D.C., July 9, 1811, sending her two numbers of the British women's magazine, "La Belle Assemblee":
"Mr. Foster presents his best respects to Mrs. Madison and has the honor to send her two numbers of the Belle Assemblee. The others are not as yet unpacked, but as soon as they can be got at he will send them to her."