[A letter concerning money, Indian affairs, etc.]

New Haven, 25 Dec. 1823. 8vo (9.5” x 8”). 3 pp. of manuscript. Docketed on adress panel.

A letter by the father of American geography Rev. Jedidiah Morse to Washington, D.C. publishers and booksellers Davis & Force concerning his publications, matters relating to Native Americans, and more.

Morse (1761–1826) addresses pecuniary matters relating to works of his the firm is currently selling. He provides a summary of copies of his books held by the publishers, which include some 190 copies of his Report to the Secretary of War on Indian Affairs (1822)—published the year prior. In view of the property in their hands, Morse asks Davis & Force to send $100 to Jeremiah Evarts (1781–1831) for his trip to Indian Country. He writes: “[Evarts] expects to be in Washington the last of Jan.y (which I hope your sales will enable you to pay) as Mr. E.[varts] will need the funds for his expenses into the Ind.[ia]n country. I would not trespass on your goodness were it not that in consequence of my great & unexpected sacrifices in my Ind.[ia]n transactions.” Morse proceeds to explain he is “pressed” at this moment, and is obliged—in order to keep his credit good—to ask favors, which he would not otherwise do.

Morse then makes certain requests, apparently directed more to Peter Force (1790–1868) of Davis & Force who was also a newspaper editor and founder of the National Journal (est. 1823). Morse writes: “Our Indian Society I think will live & move strongly in favor of the Indian. I trust you will give it all the aid in your power through your paper & in all other ways. The annual meet.[ing]s in Feb.y I expect will be a very interesting one. Mr. Evarts & David Brook are to be present. I will make important communications. I wish you to attend & to give a full acct. of the meet.[ing]s. in your paper.” Morse closes by further addressing publication and journalistic matters as they relate to the Indian Society and his book Report to the Secretary of War on Indian Affairs. Writing three years before his death, Morse makes passing reference to his “feebleness of health.” In a postscript, he notes that, since writing, Evarts has informed him he is unable to advance him $100. Morse therefore requests that Davis & Force send him a “draft at 30 days on some person or bank in N.Y. what it can convert into money & charge it my acct. This will be the simplest & best way of doing the business.”

Jedidiah Morse’s interest in America’s geography led him to a concern for the welfare of Native Americans. In 1820 he accepted an appointment from the Secretary of War to conduct a major study of American Indians, which in 1822 was published by Davis & Force. Over the course of two years Morse traveled from one Indian nation to another, observing each tribe with the utmost respect. He sought to ascertain their actual condition and to devise the most appropriate means for their improvement. Morse had a strong interest in the subject of Christianizing the Native Americans, and during his lifetime rebutted racist views published in the Encyclopædia Britannica concerning Native Americans. In spite of the popularity of his books (all of which passed through multiple editions), Morse found himself increasingly in arrears—so much so that by 1813 he was as much as $7,000 in debt and forced to borrow money from members of his family in order to stay afloat.

Jeremiah Evarts was an early advocate of Native American rights, editor of Panoplist, and an early leader of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). Evarts traveled extensively on behalf of the ABCFM, especially among its missions to the Cherokees, Chickasaws and Choctaws, and combated the frontier mentality reflected in Andrew Jackson’s policy of displacing Indian tribes.

An interesting letter relating to Morse’s financial affairs, publications, and Native American activism.

REFERENCES: Lienhard, John H. Jedidiah Morse at uh.edu; Stowe, David M., “Evarts, Jeremiah,” in Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, ed. Gerald H. Anderson (New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 1998), p. 204; Oxford Dictionary of American Biography, pp. 245–6.

CONDITION: Good, a few short separations and tears, damp-stain affecting all three pages, but with no impact on legibility.