Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
MS050 B02 F15.02 |
Title |
Jeremiah Libbey to John Langdon |
Scope & Content |
Two-page letter from Jeremiah Libbey in Portsmouth to John Langdon in Philadelphia. Transcription by Cecilia Paquette: Portsmouth June 30th. 1790 Dear Sir I last post recd. your kind favour Inclosing the Post Office Bill--am pleased that a post is to be established from this to Concord-- and shall not forget Mr Bean. The Bill is so extensive that I do not think my self Competent to make up a Judgement on it, especially as I have had only time to read it once over. hope it will prove beneficial, it appears to me that, tho duty of the Post Masters (If done) are greatly Increased, hope the Compensation will be equal--on my reading it I tho't it carried an Idea that the former post Masters behaved badly in not ren= =dering their Accounts & paying the Balances they accrued, but the 27th Section of it is very pointed, and to [letter torn] us very good now, it appears to me it will throw more on the Post Master General than is reason= =nable. Suppose (If it may be supposable) that a Post Master, at Portsmouth, or Savannah in Georgia-- on the first day of Jany (the day the Quarter expires) should be sick, or some accident happen to him or family that he could not possibly send on his Account & the money, at the time, on the first day of February, the Post Master General is to commence an Action against him, shall I ask where is the Action to be commenced, where the General Office is kept, 700 or 1000 miles from the place where the Post Master lives? or is it to be commenc'd where the Man lives? If so the Post Master General must give Orders for the Action perhaps, before it can be known whether the Accounts & moneys were not sent on, th'o not arrived at the General Office for If the Action is not bro't within one month, the Post Master General is to charged with [left margin, in Langdon's hand] Answered with it, but it is only a hint whether in requiring so much it may prove not to require very little in the end as punctuality is design'd, so much may be required as will destroy it. when the Bill is Compleated and the Post Master General has made his Arrangements of forms, Hours, etc. etc. I should be pleased to receive them, that I may comply as far as possible and that he may not by any neglect of mine suffer. was it our old Friend Mr Hazard that was now in Office, I should be sure of being Inform'd, but as Mr Osgood and I are Strangers I must not expect what I might in other circum= =stances--how does our Good Friend Mr Hazard do? is he in Business? or like to be provi[letter torn] please to present my best regards to him. you will oblige me If you have opportunity (after the Bill is gone thr'o) to talk with Mr Osgood on the Subject of the Post Office, to Inform him, that I shall esteem it a favour to be furnished with the particular forms etc. that he wishes the Accounts to be kept in--hopeing to see you safe return'd to Portsmo. as soon as the Public Business will permit-- I am Dear Sir with much respect Your Most Hum Servant Jeremiah Libbey Please to excuse Interlineations [left margin, in Langdon's hand] Jerem. Libbey Letter |
Collection |
John Langdon Papers |
Object Name |
Letter |
Date |
June 30, 1790 |
People |
Langdon, John, 1741-1819 Libbey, Jeremiah, 1748-1824 Hazard, Ebenezer, 1744-1817 Osgood, Samuel, 1747-1813 |
Subjects |
Merchants Philadelphia (Pa.) Postal service Postmasters |