Transcription
[EMBOSSED STAMP - illegible]
Boston, Dec. 16th, 1856
Hon. Washington Irving:
Sir – I take the liberty of / addressing this note, to inform you / that I have in my possession a / small volume, printed in 1730, / entitle, “The Almost Christian Dis = / covered, or the False Professor Tryed / and Cast,” +c. This little book has the autograph and was undoubtedly / the property of Dr. Benjamin Church / the traitor in the American Revo = / =llution alluded to in Vol. II of your / valuable Life of Washington, as / having been supposed to have perished / sea. It was taken from the / abandoned wreck of a vessel, [^ at sea] by / Mr Robert Oliver of Boston, (my / maternal grandfather) on the
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Route to the West Indies, as my / deceased mother has informed / me, about the time of the doctor’s / banishment. Thinking this relic / of the past might interest you, as / tending to throw some light on the / fate of this traitor, I would, though / with some hesitation in taking this liberty, / offer to send it to your address.
Will you have the kindness to / send me a line directed to the care / of James Folsom, Esq. 236 Shawmut / Avenue, Boston, saying in what / way I can transmit the above to / you?
Most respectfully yours
Dan’l S. Curtin.
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Dan’l S. Curtin
Dec’r 16th 1857
Wish offer a book / Dr Church
ans’d Dec 23d
