Wayne, Anthony | A letter of introduction for a supposed "Gentleman of large fortune"

Wayne, Anthony

Two autograph letters, containing correspondence between Anthony Wayne and Juan de Quesada. [Savannah and St. Augustine: 1791]

Autograph letter (223 x 186 mm), 1.5 pp., 4to, written in black ink, signed ("Anthony Wayne") and dated ("Savannah State of Georgia | 6th Feby 1791"); browned, 2 old horizontal folds, separating along vertical fold, a few small holes, short marginal tears not affecting text. [With]: Quesada, Juan de. Autograph letter (297 x 205 mm) on 1 leaf, written recto in Spanish, signed ("Juan Nepomuceno de Quesada") and dated ("San Agustin de la Florida ... Mayo 10 1791"); old folds, foxed.

An intriguing pair of letters, in which Wayne writes in order to introduce John McQueen, "a Gentleman of large fortune rank & consideration ... shou'd he incline to become an inhabitant of East Florida, he will be an acquisition to your Government ... not only from his own worth, & the operating property he will carry with him, but also from the number of valuable Citizens that may eventually be induced to follow his example ..." Despite this strong endorsement of character, McQueen was, in fact, fleeing to Florida so as to escape debtors' prison in Georgia—and it is reasonable to assume that Wayne was aware of his situation, given that he was residing in Savannah at the time.

Juan de Quesada, then the Governor of East Florida under Spain, replies here with gratitude for Wayne's letter of introduction, stating that he would happily welcome McQueen.