A letter that was penned by the hand of one of our nation’s Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton, was stolen almost 80 years ago, but has now been recovered and is out on display for the general public to read.
How awesome is it that this news comes out on July 4th, as we celebrate the blood, sweat, and tears of the men and women who birthed this country? The timing could not be more perfect.
The Daily Wire reports that the note from Hamilton is dated July 21, 1780 and was addressed to the Marquis de Lafayette. For those who might not know, Lafayette was a French aristocrat who once served as a general in the Continental Army. The letter warned him that British forces were planning to carry out an attack on Newport, Rhode Island, which placed French troops in grave danger.
“Federal law enforcement officials were contacted several years by an auctioneer who came across the letter and determined that it had been stolen after a family tried to sell it,” the report says.
“The letter was stolen from Massachusetts’ state archives by an employee sometime between 1937, and 1945, CNN reported. The employee, who was arrested in 1950, also stole documents from George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere and Benedict Arnold, and sold them to rare book dealers, according to CNN,” the Daily Wire report says.
The letter is currently being featured in Massachusetts at the Commonwealth Museum’s yearly 4th of July exhibit this year, according to Secretary of State William Galvin.
“This will be the public’s first opportunity to view the letter on exhibit since it was returned to Massachusetts,” he stated in a letter. “In celebration of Independence Day, the Hamilton letter will be featured alongside the Commonwealth’s original copy of the Declaration of Independence, signed by John Hancock.”
Here’s the actual text of the letter from Hamilton:
My Dear Marquis
We have just received advice from New York through different channels that the enemy are making an embarkation with which they menace the French fleet and army. Fifty transports are said to have gone up the Sound to take in troops and proceed directly to Rhode Island.
The General is absent and may not return before evening. Though this may be only a demonstration yet as it may be serious, I think it best to forward it without waiting the Generals return.
We have different accounts from New York of an action in the West Indies in which the English lost several ships. I am inclined to credit them.
I am My Dear Marquis with the truest affection
Yr. Most Obedt, A. Hamilton, Aide de Camp.
The only sad thing about all of this is how far the country has fallen from the vision the founders had for this experiment in human governance. Of course, they were wise enough to know that freedom could only last as long as the people of the nation remained a moral, upright society.
Unfortunately, it seems those kinds of people are now extinct. Just look at the issue of abortion and it all becomes clear.
This story syndicated with permission from michael, Author at Trending Politics
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