- 1041
Philip Ten Eyck
Description
- A fine collection of correspondence to Philip Jeremiah Schuyler, Alexander Hamilton's brother-in-law, New York, 1794–1804
- Paper, ink
Condition
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
Reporting on New York City's yellow fever epidemic of 1795, Ten Eyck writes on 28 September, "The fever still continues to rage here in fact it has increased greatly last week, and I now sen🏅d you information of our Committee …." he then gives a breakdown for the past week's daily fatalities, which total 159. "This will be a very bad day as the weather is sultry, and I am afraid this week it will increase in Numbers. I wish I was in the Country for our situation my Dear friend is alarming, and for my part I don't see any prospect of its decreasing for the present."
Ten Eyck sends word to Rhinebeck on the death of George Washington on 22 December 1799, "You no doubt by the🍰 last post received information of the Death of our Illustrious Chief, alas Washington is no more he died perfectly resigned to his fate after an Illness of 24 Hours. Congress intend to pay every respect to his Memory and the Corporation of this City have requested all the Churches to be hung in black & the bells to be muffled and to toll each from 12 to 1 o'Clock until the 24th we have also requested Gouverneur Morris to deliver an Oration on this Solemn Occasion which will be the last day of the year on account of the preparations necessary, all ranks of our Citizensꦆ are in mourning."
In 1804, Aaron Burr, while still serving as Vice President of the United States, ran for governor of New York State against Morgan Lewis. Ten Eyck writes from New York on 11 April, "Should your Statement of the Votes turn out as you have found then Burr must certainly lose his Election, but my friend your Statement is lower than any I have seen, the following is mine." Ten Eyck then gives a county-by-county ta🦩lly for both candidates, with 4200 votes for Lewis and 6800 for Burr. "… [Y]ou will find I place Burr in the Chair of State a handsome Majority …. he is gaining strength here every day, our friends in this City have determined to support him." In the end Morgan Lewis won the election with 58.2% of the vote.
A very fine chronicle of the political life of New York City in the early years of the Republic.