Browse Items (877 total)
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Letter from Henry Clay to John B. Bibb, n.p. Ashland [Lexington, Ky.], 20 Oct. 1847
Clay relates the matter of a land transaction in Russellville, Ky. He deprecates the unnecessary War with Mexico that would have been avoided if "there had been a different result in the last Presidential election." -
Letter from Henry Clay to Thomas W. H. Moseley and P. H. Olmsted, n.p. Ashland Lexington, Ky, 14 May 1847
Clay thanks the gentlemen for their condolences upon the death of his son at Buena Vista. Believes only God can heal the wound and he seeks to submit to His will, but the loss is still irreparable. -
Letter from Henry Clay to J. Morrison Harris, n.p. [Baltimore]. "Ashland," 9 July 1847
Remarks on the copy of resolutions he received from the Maryland Gubernatorial Convention in regards to the death of his son Henry Clay, Jr. He writes, "The death of my beloved son has put in requisition all my fortitude and resolution." -
Letter from Henry Clay to Oscar T. Keeler, Columbia, Miss., Ashland, Ky. 4 November 1846
Clay writes to Dr. Keeler thanking him for sending medicine intended for Clay's grandson. He reports that it was not used as his grandson died in Philadelphia and no one else had been sick so he could not report on its value. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Mrs. Octavia W. LeVert, Mobile, Alabama. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 6 November 1846
Clay writes of his family in some detail and then of the War with Mexico. "It was begun without any necessity, and in folly, and is conducted without wisdom." He criticizes the war severely. Clay discusses his travel plans for the winter. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Farnham Plummer, Boston, Massachusetts. Ashland, 26 May 1846
His son had intended to ship a considerable quantity of hemp but the low price on the Eastern market has discouraged him. He has sold most of his water rolled hemp in Louisville at $150 per ton. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Dudley Selden. New York. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 4 June 1846
Thanks Selden for his research in Cuba on Clay's behalf. Has been spending his winters in the South to preserve his health and would like to spend a winter in Cuba. Fears the possibility of war with Great Britain over the joint occupation of Oregon and the outbreak of hostilities with Mexico. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Octavia Walton LeVert, Mobile, Alabama. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 25 June 1846
Clay regrets he could not visit Mobile. He discusses the enthusiasm shown for the war with Mexico and writes that his son Henry has become a lieutenant colonel. Great Britain has offerred mediation and Clay hopes it will be accepted. Next week Clay will represent Lafayette Shelby who killed a man last winter. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Henry Grinnell and Capt. Ezra Nye, New York. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 27 September 1845
Clay thanks Grinnell for a painting of the packet Henry Clay, owned by Grinnell, Minturn & Co. which has just arrived. He thanks them, too, for the offer of free passage to Europe aboard the ship, but doubts he will ever again make the trip. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Charles J. Hadermann, Louisville, Kentucky. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 1 November 1845
Expresses regret at the results of the late presidential election. "I was surprised and sorry to see how many of your Countrymen, and others of foreign birth were deluded.... As they become more versed in our institutions and their operation, they will themselves regret that delusion." Comments on Calvin Colton's forthcoming biography of Clay and believes it will add to public knowledge. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Lord Ashburton, London, England. Lexington, Kentucky. 14 May 1845
Introduces Col. John Brand and his son William of Lexington, who are visiting Europe. Expresses his great regard for Ashburton for his work on the treaty and hopes his talents will help settle the Oregon question now creating problems for their countries. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Garett Davis. Lexington, Ky., 13 January 1845
Asks Davis to check on the genuineness of a letter Clay received. Believes there is ample choice in the variety of the propositions to annex Texas. -
Letter from Henry Clay to John Quincy Adams, Quincy, Massachusetts. Ashland, Lexington, Ky. 12 August 1845
Introduces H. S. Julian of Louisville, cashier of a banking institution, who desires to meet Adams. Docketed in Adams' hand. -
Letter from Henry Clay to William McConkey, Jr., Baltimore, Maryland. Ashland, Ky., 28 September 1844
In a dictated letter Clay acknowledges receipt of McConkey's friendly letter transmitting a note from good friend Mr. Hughes. Clay wishes that McConkey's sentiments of patriotism and disinterestedness were more prevalent in the country, and graciously thanks McConkey for his favorable feelings and opinions (toward Clay). Clay writes that throughout his life he has been anxious to deserve the esteem of good men and will persevere in his way, though sometimes misunderstood and often misrepresented. Clay wishes him health, happiness and prosperity, signing the letter in his own hand and adding a post script in his own hand. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Thomas Ewing, Lancaster, Ohio. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 19 June 1844
Clay details his stand on naturalization of foreigners for Congressman Ewing and asks his opinion as to whether he should make a public expression of his views. A draft of Ewing's response, dated 23 June 1844, states that Clay should not reveal his stance on this issue. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Hon William P. Thomasson. Ashland, Lexington, Kentucky. 8 July 1844
Hesitates to make a statement on the naturalization laws. Entertains "strong doubts as to the propriety of my expressing my opinion on public questions, since I became formally a candidate for the Presidency." Comments on his views on foreigners and the need to be guided by public opinion. -
Letter from Henry Clay to James Watson Webb. New York. Mobile, Alabama, 29 February 1844
Explains a misunderstanding on the part of the postmaster at Lexington, Ky. caused the cancellation of Clay's receipt of Webb's newspaper. Normally Clay receives 40 or 50 newspapers daily from such friends as Webb, even though he does not subscribe to them. -
Letter from Henry Clay to J. P. B. Maxwell, C. F. Randolph, et al., Belvidere, New Jersey. Ashland, Lexington, Ky., 18 December 1844
Acknowledges an address from these men on the subject of the late presidential election. Clay thanks them for their support and for the support given him by New Jersey. He hopes the Whigs will have better success in future elections. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Thos. W. Duffield, Jr. (et al.), Frankford, Pa. Raleigh, 15 April 1844
Thanking them for the invitation to visit Frankford if he should return home by Philadelphia. -
Letter from Henry Clay to Henry M. Brackenridge, Tarentum near Pittsburg, Penn. Ashland [Ky.], 12 November 1843
Discusses divisions between the Anti-Masonic and Whig parties in Penn.; the Compromise of 1833 and criticism against it; and the reestablishment of a national bank.