1835 HANDWRITTEN LETTER (ALS) FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE PRESIDENTS OF THREE INSURANCE COMPANIES, REGARDING SEIZURE OF THE BRIG "OPHIR" AT CAMPECHE, MEXICO [on May 1, 1835: less than eight months before the Battle of the Alamo.]

1835. Original manuscript. Very Good. 2pp, quarto, integral address leaf, written in sepia ink on laid paper, watermarked HUDSON. Datelined: Department of State, Washington, 6th July 1835. Addressed to the presidents of the New York State Marine Insurance Co. (Jno. C. Delprat), the Commercial Insurance Co. (Edward A. Russell), and Union Insurance Co. (Jeremiah P. Tappan). Acknowledges their letter of the 1st instant and their enclosure of a message from the Consul of the United States at Campeche "relative to the seizure of the Brig Ophir by the authorities at that place...." Forsyth states that a Mr. Butler has just left Washington on return to Mexico, will look into the matter, and will "demand such redresss as it may be found entitled to." Signed with a flourish, John Forsyth. John Forsyth (1780-1841) represented Georgia in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, then served as the 33rd Governor of Georgia. A strong supporter of the policies of Andrew Jackson, he was appointed Secretary of State by Jackson in 1834, and continued in that role until 1841 during the presidency of Martin Van Buren.