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Estimate Range: $1,600 - $2,400
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This Lot is CLOSED for Absentee Bidding.
Revolutionary War General Edward Hand’s Autograph Letter Signed Framing a new Constitution in Pennsylvania

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EDWARD HAND (December 31, 1744 - September 3, 1802). A physician, farmer, Congressman, and an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War; Commanded troops in some of the key battles of the war, including Long Island and Trenton; As Adjutant General of the Continental Army, assisted General George Washington in the Siege of Yorktown; also was a Member of the Board convened by General Washington in 1780 to investigate the treachery of Benedict Arnold.

February 4, 1790-Dated, Federal Period, Autograph Letter Signed, “Edwd: Hand” to Jasper Yeates, Philadelphia, PA, 2 pages, measuring 6.75” x 8” Choice Very Fine. Boldly Handwritten in deep vivid brown ink on clean laid period paper, easily readable having internal corrections. Edward Hand apprises a Pennsylvania political ally of recent developments at the State Convention for framing a new Constitution. "Some time ago I forwarded you the plan of the Legislative Branch, & now send those for the Executive & Judicial, as agreed on by the Committee of the whole". The Complete Transcript reads, in full:

“Philadelphia 4th. Feby. 1790 --- Dear Yeates --- I last evening recd. your favr. of 10th. Ultimo. I have no doubt of receiving your depretiation interest in money or a rect. from Turbet before I return the treasurer told me as much the evening before last. Some time ago I forwarded you the plan of the Legislative Branch, & now send those for the Executive & Judicial, as agreed on by the Committee of the whole. The Bill of Rights is gone through, one Section, (on the liberty of the press) excepted, expect the Committee of the whole will report tomorrow, and as the business has already been so amply discussed - hope it will pass easiely thro the Convention unless our absentees give an opening to the overhill gentlemen, and some of them are well dispose[d] to profit by such an advantage.

with Complements to Mrs. Yeates --- your very affectionate -- Hble Servt. -- (Signed) Edwd: Hand”.

The New “Pennsylvania Constitution” was Passed just Two Days following this Letter, on February 6, 1790. Whereas the original 1776 State Constitution was characterized by a dominant, unicameral legislature (of a legislative body having two branches or chambers), of Pennsylvania Republicans (most of whom were Federalists in national politics) sought a bicameral legislature and a stronger executive on the model of both the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 and the U.S. Constitution.
Jasper Yeates (1745-1817) was a successful Lancaster attorney who was selected as a Delegate to the Pennsylvania Convention for considering the U.S. Constitution. He was a Federalist, and he supported like-minded Republicans in Pennsylvania politics such as Hand, who sought to reform the state constitution. Yeates was later a Justice on the State Supreme Court, and he published the Reports of Cases Adjudged in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1791-1808.

Edward Hand (December 31, 1744 - September 3, 1802) was a physician, farmer, congressman, and an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He commanded troops in some of the key battles of the war, including Long Island and Trenton. As Adjutant General of the Continental Army, he assisted General George Washington in the siege of Yorktown. He also was a member of the board convened by Washington in 1780 to investigate the treachery of Benedict Arnold. After the Revolution, Hand resumed the practice of medicine but remained active in civil affairs. A Federalist, he went on to serve as a member both of the Confederation Congress (1784-1785) and of the Pennsylvania Assembly (1785-1786), as well as a Delegate to the convention for the 1790 Pennsylvania Constitution.

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