{"product_id":"1812-autograph-letter-describing-the-richmond-theatre-fire-death-of-virginia-governor-george-william-smith-early-american-political-manuscript","title":"1812 Autograph Letter Describing the Richmond Theatre Fire – Death of Virginia Governor George William Smith – Early American Political Manuscript","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"c850b38f-23a1-423f-8e54-fce7a620fdda\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-5\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3706\" data-end=\"3978\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eAn exceptional unpublished four-page autograph letter written from \u003cstrong data-start=\"3773\" data-end=\"3787\"\u003eJanesville\u003c\/strong\u003e on \u003cstrong data-start=\"3791\" data-end=\"3810\"\u003eJanuary 9, 1812\u003c\/strong\u003e, containing an early contemporary account of the catastrophic \u003cstrong data-start=\"3873\" data-end=\"3919\"\u003eRichmond Theatre Fire of December 26, 1811\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the deadliest disasters in early American history.\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3980\" data-end=\"4571\"\u003eWritten only two weeks after the tragedy, the correspondent reports receiving fresh news by the city mail that the Richmond theatre \"took fire... while some play was acting,\" that the roof collapsed upon an audience estimated at fifteen hundred persons, and that approximately forty perished, \"among whom was the Governor of Virginia and his lady.\" Although later reports established the death toll at seventy-two, including Governor \u003cstrong data-start=\"4414\" data-end=\"4438\"\u003eGeorge William Smith\u003c\/strong\u003e, this letter preserves the earliest stage of the story as it spread across the young republic. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4573\" data-end=\"4956\"\u003eThe first portion of the letter discusses contemporary New York politics, including debates in the state Senate over repeal of part of the Commissioning Law, a closely contested \u003cstrong data-start=\"4751\" data-end=\"4760\"\u003e13–11\u003c\/strong\u003e vote, the actions of \u003cstrong data-start=\"4782\" data-end=\"4795\"\u003eMr. Riker\u003c\/strong\u003e, and sharp divisions between \u003cstrong data-start=\"4825\" data-end=\"4836\"\u003eTammany\u003c\/strong\u003e supporters and the \u003cstrong data-start=\"4856\" data-end=\"4874\"\u003eResolutionists\u003c\/strong\u003e, providing valuable insight into partisan politics on the eve of the War of 1812.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"4958\" data-end=\"5197\"\u003eThe letter retains its original address panel, postal markings, and remnants of the original red wax seal. Written in a clear and highly legible hand, it remains in very good condition with expected folds, light age toning, and minor wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"5199\" data-end=\"5505\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eA highly desirable unpublished primary source combining early American politics with one of the nation's first great urban disasters. Ideal for collectors of War of 1812-era manuscripts, Virginia history, New York political history, early postal history, and significant American historical correspondence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"1qct557\" data-start=\"311\" data-end=\"331\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eDocument Details\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"333\" data-end=\"660\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1ox23cz\" data-start=\"333\" data-end=\"360\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"335\" data-end=\"344\"\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e January 9, 1812\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"191ieni\" data-start=\"361\" data-end=\"422\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"363\" data-end=\"381\"\u003ePlace Written:\u003c\/strong\u003e Janesville (likely Janesville, New York)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1uyyiho\" data-start=\"423\" data-end=\"463\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"425\" data-end=\"436\"\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Four-page autograph letter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1ov0udh\" data-start=\"464\" data-end=\"512\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"466\" data-end=\"480\"\u003eRecipient:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong data-start=\"481\" data-end=\"501\"\u003eMr. Breckinridge\u003c\/strong\u003e, Princeton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1wwvkbm\" data-start=\"513\" data-end=\"560\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"515\" data-end=\"534\"\u003ePostal Marking:\u003c\/strong\u003e \"D. Morris Jany. 6, 1812\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1olcs0w\" data-start=\"561\" data-end=\"612\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"563\" data-end=\"597\"\u003eOriginal red wax seal remnants\u003c\/strong\u003e still present.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"ge6k1j\" data-start=\"613\" data-end=\"660\"\u003eEntirely written in a neat contemporary hand.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"662\" data-end=\"665\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"a2jejw\" data-start=\"667\" data-end=\"677\"\u003eContent\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"679\" data-end=\"719\"\u003eThe letter discusses two major subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"1kqu1r1\" data-start=\"721\" data-end=\"745\"\u003e1. New York Politics\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"747\" data-end=\"861\"\u003eThe writer reports on debates in the New York Senate concerning repeal of part of the \"Commissioning Law,\" noting:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"863\" data-end=\"1001\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"fsbbx9\" data-start=\"863\" data-end=\"904\"\u003eMr. Riker abandoning the Resolutionists\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"49zf3p\" data-start=\"905\" data-end=\"932\"\u003eA final vote of \u003cstrong data-start=\"923\" data-end=\"932\"\u003e13–11\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"18w43el\" data-start=\"933\" data-end=\"1001\"\u003eConflict between \u003cstrong data-start=\"952\" data-end=\"963\"\u003eTammany\u003c\/strong\u003e supporters and the \u003cstrong data-start=\"983\" data-end=\"1001\"\u003eResolutionists\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1003\" data-end=\"1117\"\u003eThis provides a fascinating snapshot of New York's intensely partisan politics immediately before the War of 1812.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-section-id=\"oag21k\" data-start=\"1119\" data-end=\"1151\"\u003e2. The Richmond Theatre Fire\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1153\" data-end=\"1219\"\u003eThe second half contains remarkably early news of the catastrophe:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote data-start=\"1221\" data-end=\"1457\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1223\" data-end=\"1457\"\u003e\"...the Theatre in Richmond (Va.) took fire... while some play was acting... the roof fell in... there being about 1500 in the Theatre... about 40 of them perished in the flames among whom was the Governor of Virginia and his lady...\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1459\" data-end=\"1563\"\u003eThe writer was relying on fresh reports carried by the city mail only about two weeks after the tragedy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1565\" data-end=\"1929\"\u003eAlthough the casualty estimate of \"about 40\" proved low, the account correctly reports the death of \u003cstrong data-start=\"1665\" data-end=\"1707\"\u003eVirginia Governor George William Smith\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the most shocking losses in the disaster. The Richmond Theatre fire actually claimed \u003cstrong data-start=\"1801\" data-end=\"1813\"\u003e72 lives\u003c\/strong\u003e, making it the deadliest urban disaster in the United States up to that time. \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1931\" data-end=\"2105\"\u003eThis is exactly the kind of contemporary reporting historians prize because it preserves how major national news circulated before newspapers had fully established the facts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"2107\" data-end=\"2110\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"1353kst\" data-start=\"2112\" data-end=\"2136\"\u003eHistorical Importance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2138\" data-end=\"2158\"\u003eThe letter combines:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"2160\" data-end=\"2383\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"10xgrj2\" data-start=\"2160\" data-end=\"2194\"\u003eEarly American political history\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"t6z5ac\" data-start=\"2195\" data-end=\"2225\"\u003eNew York legislative affairs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1x99evw\" data-start=\"2226\" data-end=\"2244\"\u003eTammany politics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1t7ncjb\" data-start=\"2245\" data-end=\"2333\"\u003eOne of the earliest surviving manuscript reports of the \u003cstrong data-start=\"2303\" data-end=\"2333\"\u003e1811 Richmond Theatre Fire\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"snjru7\" data-start=\"2334\" data-end=\"2383\"\u003eDeath of Virginia Governor George William Smith\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2385\" data-end=\"2633\"\u003eLetters discussing the Richmond Theatre Fire shortly after the event are scarce. Most surviving accounts are newspaper reports; privately written correspondence describing the disaster while the news was still unfolding is considerably less common.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-start=\"2635\" data-end=\"2638\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-section-id=\"hrykuu\" data-start=\"2640\" data-end=\"2652\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2654\" data-end=\"2664\"\u003eVery Good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"2666\" data-end=\"2923\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1pl6ex4\" data-start=\"2666\" data-end=\"2692\"\u003eFour-page folded letter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"ncdzdk\" data-start=\"2693\" data-end=\"2724\"\u003eStrong manuscript throughout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1wmwu3x\" data-start=\"2725\" data-end=\"2742\"\u003eOriginal folds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1xuvmtb\" data-start=\"2743\" data-end=\"2768\"\u003eOriginal address panel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"14n2ei4\" data-start=\"2769\" data-end=\"2796\"\u003eOriginal postal markings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1mpvk74\" data-start=\"2797\" data-end=\"2828\"\u003eRed wax seal remnants remain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"1erfz28\" data-start=\"2829\" data-end=\"2872\"\u003eLight edge wear and scattered age toning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-section-id=\"7ivtih\" data-start=\"2873\" data-end=\"2923\"\u003eMinor fold separations without significant loss.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2925\" data-end=\"2970\"\u003eAn attractive, highly displayable manuscript.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52584062550298,"sku":null,"price":1595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_1815.jpg?v=1785076280","url":"https:\/\/princetonaudubonprints.com\/products\/1812-autograph-letter-describing-the-richmond-theatre-fire-death-of-virginia-governor-george-william-smith-early-american-political-manuscript","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}