Monroe, James (1758-1831) to Moses Abbott
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03908 Author/Creator: Monroe, James (1758-1831) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 November 1815 Pagination: 1 p. : address : free frank ; 24.5 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy
Written by Monroe as Secretary of State. Monroe apparently owes Abbott a substantial debt, saying he will pay to his order five hundred dollars by Mr. Dabney next week and the balance in 90 days. Says his farms in Albemarle and Loudoun Counties in Virginia have been "miserably deficient," and that the current harvest will hardly pay for the expenses of the plantations. Asks Abbott to communicate with Dabney and to get back to him without delay. Asks to send the letter marked "private" and in another envelope. Monroe had gotten himself into substantial debt, which he was not able to get out of until he retired from the presidency and received reimbursement from the government for back pay during his previous diplomatic stints in Europe.
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