Chester A. Arthur ALS "I beg that you will pardon my seeming neglect..."

2pp, measuring 4.375" x 6.875", New York, dated March 28, 1879. Boldly signed "C.A. Arthur" and addressed to General Gibson as Fort Wadsworth. Written on stationery of the Law Offices of Arthur, Phelps, Knevals & Ransom. Arthur writes to apologize for the delay in forwarding a document. Reading in full: "I regret exceedingly the delay in sending you the enclosed letter. Your note requesting it, having been sent to my house, instead of my office, was overlooked in my absence from town & was not brought to my attention until today. I beg that you will pardon my seeming neglect & hope that the letter is not too late to be of use to you." With flattened mail folds and minor soiling. Boldly signed by Arthur.

Chester A. Arthur was serving as the 21st Collector of the Port of New York up until July 1878, when he was fired by President Hayes. In 1881, Arthur was elected Vice President, serving with President Garfield. He was in Albany, New York when he learned that Garfield had been shot by Guiteau, and was exceedingly troubled by the fact that Guiteau's reasoning behind the assassination was to make Arthur president. After Garfield's death, Arthur was sworn into office and served just one term as president.

Horatio Gates Gibson (1827-1924) was a career Army artillery officer, serving 40 years in the U.S. Army. He served in both the Mexican War and the Civil War and finally retired in 1891.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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