Benson, Egbert:

$5,000 · Offered by William Reese Company

[AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED ("EGBT BENSON"), FROM EGBERT BENSON AS U.S. CONGRESSMAN FROM NEW YORK, TO AN UNNAMED RECIPIENT (PROBABLY SAMUEL JONES)]. An intriguing letter from Egbert Benson, New York's first attorney general after independence, a leading New York jurist, prime mover in the push for a new federal constitution, and representative from New York in the First Congress. Benson, along with Alexander Hamilton, had introduced the resolution for a constitutional convention at the Annapolis Convention of 1786, and he introduced the resolution for a New York ratifying convention in 1788. He writes to an unnamed correspondent, reporting on the business of the third session, with mention of President Washington's speech, Alexander Hamilton's reports, and New York Supreme Court justices John S. Hobart and Robert Yates; and the recent military campaign against the Miamis in the Ohio Valley. Though Benson dated this letter "Nov. 14, 1790," it was almost certainly written on December 14, as Congress did not meet until December that year."Dear Sir, Upon Reflection it has appeared to Me, and I am persuaded it will appear to you, most advisable that the intended Correspondence between Us should seem to commence with you. Indeed it will not be easy for me or satisfactory to you for me to write to you generally on the Subject, and therefore wish you would from time to time write to me stating the Questions which you may be desirous to have examined and answered. It will be most pruden

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