Macaulay, Catharine (1731-1791) to Saige
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01794.31 Author/Creator: Macaulay, Catharine (1731-1791) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 June 1788 Pagination: 3p. :address : docket ; 22.5 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy
Draft
She has read the political tracts and responds to them. She will attempt to make copies available in England. She comments on a museum's response to her work.
A full inventory is available.
After the death of her husband George Macaulay in 1766, Catharine Macaulay married an Anglican minister William Graham. Letters from her female descendents are in GLC 1795. Notable in that collection are letters of her daughter, Catharine Sophia Macaulay [Gregorie], to Macaulay while the latter toured America and France. This collection of Lady Catharine's correspondence was broken-up for public sale in 1993. The Gilder Lehrman Collection has also acquired other letters written to her, including GLC 1784.01-1800.04. There are approximately 190 items between these accession numbers. GLC 1784-1793 and 1796-1800 are individual documents written by important American figures including John Adams, Ezra Stiles, John Dickinson, William Cooper, Richard Henry Lee, Mercy Otis Warren and the pseudonymous "Sophronia." Most of the documents relate to the events leading the Revolution. A few, notably the letters from Mercy Otis Warren and "Sophronia" concern the new Constitution and the French Revolution.
Dear Madam
I joyfully embrace the first opportunity of of [sic] writing to you which a continued series of bussiness necessary in the removing to a new habitation where every thing was out of order has given me
Sir
I have read over yr two political tracts with infinite pleasure. The principles on which they are written do great honor to yr heart and they are elucidated in a manner which manifests a high and extensive knowledge of yr subject with a clearness of judgment and an acuteness of observation which few political writers possess I own to you that I found my vanity a good deal exalted in the reading so argumentative an exposition of my own sentiments and I think that Locke and Rousseau were they to revisit the earth would acknowledge that their [strikeout: ide] ideas were improved extended and elucidated in yr Manner [2] but I am afraid you have a better opinion of the english than they deserve the lower ranks of the people are too ignorant to read works of any depth and the higher classes too interested to relish the pareness of yr equity
This is the misfortune of all those who write for the bulk of mankind and not for the Severed few These works are only read by those who have an interest in decrying them
I am at present buried in a Country retreat but I have written to Mr Weivilles Bookseller to inquire where he is but I am afraid he is out of England however I shall take every step in my power to get some copies of yr excelent Work inculated here both for the esteem I have for the Author and the intrinsick value of his performance
I received the brief letter you favored me with but delayed answering it till the promised Library you sent arrived I beg you will accept my thanks for it The Gentlemen of the Museum do me honor in mentioning my works with so much politeness were they much more considerable I should regard them as a small return for the [3] flattering compliment they paid me
I am Sir with the highest esteem and regard
Binfield
June 11. 88
Monsier-Monsier Le Saige
Maison de Madame Lenston
Rue de la grande toupe Fauseberg
St. Seuvin Bordeaux
[docket #1:]
Monsier Le Saige's letter with the answer
[docket #2:]
Novembr. 1787
Monsr Le Saige
Bordeaux with the
answer
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