Beschreibung:

historically significant lot of correspondence to Elisha Riggs, one of America's most wealthy financiers during the 1830s-40s. Elisha was the father of George Washington Riggs, who with William Corcoran financed the Mexican War for the U.S. Government through their Washington D.C. Bank Corcoran and Riggs. In 1854, Riggs bought Corcoran out and the Riggs National Banks still exists today in Washington D.C. Approximately 80 stampless letters and documents, mostly all with postmarks from various places throughout the U.S. These letters show the far reach and influence of Elisha on financial enterprises throughout the country. One particular group of letters, from a M.T. Williams president of the Ohio Life Insurance Trust Company, dated in the early 1840s, concerns a $100,000 loan from the Bank of the U.S. to the City of Cincinnati and efforts by Riggs to try and collect on it. Mentions City Council agreeing to pay, stalling, Attorney General Lagare, the legality of the sale of bonds by the Secretary of the Navy, etc. It appears Riggs bought the U.S. Bank's right to the note. Another group concerns a land deal in St. Louis, Brought a case up to the MO Supreme Court... /s/ J.B. Crockett (relative of Davey?). Many other letters from the 1830s from Georgetown D.C. or Alexandria D.C. (now Virginia) which reveal how Congressmen were looking out for themselves during this time of monetary upheaval. In part, Claiborne's note will not be paid for 12 months when he comes on to the meeting of Congress. His deposit is in the Vicksburg Bank... you can authorize Mr. William Corcoran to transfer stocks...; Get money out of J.H. Lynch & Co. who are going under. /s/ Richard Taylor; There will be no specie payment until a U.S. Bank is established...; The late act of the President of the U.S. is considered by all correct with judging P__ is arbitrary and in violation of law and the constitution... it is expected that Congress, especially all states right men will view it as reversible... and any individual who acted in the manner the government has done would be considered a fool... My cash and your cash (if we have any in the Bank of the U.S.) is more safe in the Bank of the U.S. than it can be in any of the local banks... If the local banks will loan out the public money in a place like this, they will find themselves in the same place as the Bank of Columbia...; Have sent Geo. W. Riggs the Treasury Check for $309...; I sent into Congress a memorial signed by many persons for an amalgamation of the Banks -- bills have been reported chartering the Banks for one year. A large committee of citizens of each town appeared before the District Committee of Congress to urge the union of the banks... On the subject of war, by easy, we shall have no more although the country is in a horrible state. I refer you to Mr. Adams speech. The Jackson men had begun to applaud and crow very much that Mr. Adams was on their side. It is not so. All the members I see speak confidently that we will not have a war with France. All the difficulty coming out of Mr. Rives conduct proclaiming he had made a good bargain out of Louis Phillipe...; Specie selling at 5%. Members of Congress selling as fast as they get it and when they adjourn, no doubt, it will all be sold or taken home. No demands for missing Alabama funds. Congress will do nothing by issue T. Notes.; Treasury checks scarce, large amounts of gold have been received here and it's said to pay members of Congress...; (Raymond, Mississippi) Levied against Craven... who has since died... he had in his possession some 30 or 40 valuable slaves... (Georgetown, D.C. 1839) No arrangements re: directors of Bank of Washington. Send your proxy to me or Richard Smith .. We plan to consolidate all the Washington banks into one with a branch in Georgetown or Alexandria. Capital of $3 million... petitioning Congress... Bank's charter to expire 1836. Now's the time to get them to stick together... We shall have no French War thou