Alexander Donald always seems to have something up his sleeve. At the Valentine Museum in Richmond I found many references to letters that are in Williamsburg, so I need to get back there and find those - but then I found a great document from Alexander in 1804. Just to remind those at the back of the class, Alexander Donald has left America in 1790 or so, gone bust in 1793, moved into coal mining on the dawn of the industrial revolution, somehow managed to go bust again, ended up in debtor's prison and is now at large.
The document is signed by the Lord Mayor - John Perring in Mansion House. With him he has Alexander and three witnesses - Richard Pinch of Lawrence Lane, Abraham Hendricks of Lawrence Lane and John Lockyer, servant to Richard Healing of Lawrence Lane. Presume Mr Healing was otherwise engaged so sent his chap. Annoyingly, the seal of A Donald was not there - there was a bit missing. Would have loved to have seen his seal. Toujours Pret do you think, like his nephew's bookplate?
Very long document - but the long and short of it is that Alexander owned two large chunks of land below Main Street in Richmond, which he had rather cleverly kept hold of whilst going bust quite so many times. He had held these since 1789 - and one he received from quite a few people including one James Brown. Before he left Richmond he had written a document saying that James was to inherit it all - just to go back to a letter I found ages and ages ago in the Virginia Historical Society to James's mother, he had described him as such:
I only do your son James common justice when I say that he is the cleverest man in business I ever met with in the whole course of my life and that is impossible for him to be exceeded in industry
So you can see why he wants to leave everything to James Brown.
Now, in 1804, for the sum of One Dollar - he takes everything away from James - and hands it all to Daniel Call and his heirs - with the slight caveat that he has to sell it immediately, so not really for his heirs, and send the money he makes straight to Alexander Donald.
So who Daniel Call? He was a lawyer and the brother in law to John Marshall - the chap whose house I had just been in when I read this document. See, I said it would tie in.
And why was Alexander so upset about James Brown? He had held a grudge against him since 1793 - writing to Jefferson:
It gives me pain however to mention, that you will not trust to Mr. James Brown for shipping your Tobacco to me, for since I left the Country he has shewn a decided preference to Mr. Burton, notwithstanding all my kindness to him. I know Brown’s disposition so well, that I have no doubt of his doing every thing he can to hurt my Interest, but he will find it is too strongly founded to be shaken by his ingratitude.
He had blamed Burton for Donald and Burton going bust and now Brown was siding with Burton. Forgive me if I have covered this, but the quote from Brown to Jefferson I thought was great.
I am sorry to discover Mr. Donald has Personal Views, that to enforce them he exculpates himself from all Blame of course Rests the failure on his Partners without giving them an oportunity to clear themselves from censure. This conduct every generous Mind will condemn and Suspend Opinions till both Sides are heard. Mr. Donald is also pleased to find fault with my conduct to some of his confidential friends, Without Writing me a Single line on the Subject, however I feel perfectly easy under the charge’s, as I can Satisfy every liberal mind that they are groundless, and this manner of attack below the character of a Man.
Looks like Alexander was taking his personal views out on Mr Brown - and I have to admit, this probably was a little below the character of a Man what he did. History does not - yet - relate what, if any, money Alexander received from the sale. Jefferson being Jefferson wrote a fairly wishy washing letter to Brown - he made his views known, but told him to sort it out. Always keen to avoid a fight.
To whom do you consign my tobacco? I have so much confidence in my friend Mr. Donald that I would rather he should have the selling it than any body, and I learn that this would be the case if consigned to a Mr. John Younger, heretofore a clerk in the house of D. & B. I also understand that Havre is a fine market for tobacco at present. I shall leave this to your decision, but shall be glad to hear from you on the subject
Again, not sure what Brown did, but I think we can guess. Still, I think Alexander had the last laugh.
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