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Richard Varick Autograph Letter Signed Demanding Arms and Ammunition "cannon and grape shott" at Albany 1776
RICHARD VARICK, (1753-1831). 1775 Revolutionary War Captain of the 1st New York Regiment, Private Secretary to Continental Army General George Washington, Mayor of New York City from 1789 to 1801, Speaker and Member of the New York State Assembly, American Lawyer and Politician.

August 3rd, 1776-Dated Revolutionary War, Autograph Letter Signed, “Richd Varick” as Secretary, 1 page, measuring 13” tall x 8.25” wide, Albany, (New York), to Colonel Robert Livingston, Fine. Richard Varick was at this time serving as Secretary to General Philip Schuyler of New York. This Letters Docketed on the blank reverse, reads in full: "A Letter from Mr. Richard Varick Dated 3rd Aug(ust) 1776" written in deep brown ink. This important urgent Letter is well written and easily readable, folded, scattered heavy tones in upper folds seen mostly on the blank reverse, with two small short fold edge splits touching one word, having a bold large signature “Richd Varick” measuring 3.75” long including his fancy flourish below. War-Dated August 3, 1776, this Handwritten Letter to Colonel Robert Livingston, reads in full:

"Albany Augt. 3rd 1776 --- Sir --- By General Schuyler's orders I do myself the honor to inclose you a list of Anchors & Graplins and Also of Cannon and Grape Shott Imediately wanted for the publick service which the General requests you'll Order to be Made and Cast at your Forge & Furnace with the Utmost Dispatch. -- You'll be pleased to inform Me by the Return of this Express whithor [sic] you have Any & which of the Above Articles Now Ready made, & in what Time the whole of the Anchors & Graplins will be finished and Also how soon the General May Expect to have the Cannon & Grape Shott ready. -- As soon as any of these Articles are finished you'll be pleased to Order them to be rid (sic) down to Your Landing & Inform the General thereof by Express. It will be most Expedient to have the several different kinds of shott cast at the same time, as it is uncertain which sort will be soonest wanted tho: the whole are much & Immediately Wanted. -- I am - Sir - Your Humbl. Servt. --- By Order of ye General - (Signed) Richd. Varick, Secy". --- (To Colo. Robert Livingston)

The Continental Army invasion of Canada had proved a miserable failure, and the Continentals had retreated to Crown Point but decided to concentrate their defense at Fort Ticonderoga. General Schuyler, plagued by gout, was unable to lead in the field and was placed in charge of directing supplies from Albany. This historic letter shows his great urgency, stating: "As soon as any of these Articles are Finished you'll be pleased to order them to be rid down to your landing and Inform the General thereof by Express. It will be Most Expedient to have the several different kinds of shott cast at the same time, as it is uncertain which sort will be soonest wanted tho: the whole are Much & Immediately Wanted."

Provenance: John H.V. Arnold (sale, Anderson Galleries, 19 April 1904, lot 766); Most recently from The JAMES S. COPLEY LIBRARY: MAGNIFICENT AMERICAN HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS, Sotheby's New York Sale, April 14, 2010, where this letter sold for $4,375.
Richard Varick (1753-1831) was at this point serving as Secretary to General Philip Schuyler. In 1743, Philip Livingston established one of the first iron foundries in America and developed iron mining on land in Salisbury Connecticut, creating a lucrative monopoly for the family, which Robert Livingston (1708-1790) placed at the disposal of the Albany Committee of Safety. Varick later served as Aide-de-Camp to General Benedict Arnold, prior to the latter's defection to the British. Varick later served as George Washington's private Secretary, Mayor of New York City, and a New York State legislator.

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