LS, nine pages on five sheets, 8 x 10, December 21, 1840. Lengthy letter to the President and Director of the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company, with some small handwritten corrections done by Colt, as well as striking out several lines and passages. In full, “Gentlemen, feeling that we are now in a situation to make a favorable operation in our improved arms with the government I have taken the liberty to submit for your inspection & consideration the following suggestions from which all the experience I have gained in my former visits to Washington & the advice from friends highly interested in the success of our arms. I am satisfied that a better manner of operating cannot be adopted for this Winter. In the first place the following resolution should be passed by the House of Representatives without one days delay. Resolve that the Secretary of the Navy be directed to furnish a copy of the reports in October & December 1840 by the Board of Navy Operators on a repeating firearm manufactured by Michael Nutting purporting to be an improvement on those of Samuel Colt’s invention & that the same be printed & referred to the Naval & Military Committees. To have this resolution complied with will probably occupy a week or ten days after it is proposed. The next move would be to have the following resolution passed…Resolved that the Secretary of the Navy & the Secretary of War be directed to furnish…information obtained from the Inventors the price at which he will supply ten thousand of his most improved Repeating Firearms & equipment compliant for service…After this resolution has been complied with which may require one weeks time, the following resolution should be immediately passed. Resolved that the Secretary of the Navy be directed to furnish the prices at which Mr. Colt will supply ten thousand of his most improved Repeating firearms & equipment compliant & the same be referred to the Naval Committee…The passing of thus resolutions will at once give us and order from New Jersey for 240 rifles in pursuance to a resolution already passed this legislator & from other states will be equally good. It is therefore of great importance to us that the measures be at once taken to secure this year all the large states their greater supplies of all the large states in our arms & to do this it is absolutely necessary that a premium or commission be offered sufficiently large to induce men of the greatest influence in the several states to act directly or indirectly as our agents. The larger the inducement the more labor will be bestowed to obtain the most favorable result it would be much easier for men like Webster [Daniel crossed out by Colt], Rever. Calhoun [John C. crossed out by Colt], Clay [Henry crossed out by Colt], Buchanan, Tallmadge, Benton & their like to induce their respective state authorities to require thousands of our arms than it would men of smaller caliber to get hundreds, but men like the first mentioned will not spend their valuable time & influence for consideration…if either of the men mentioned were to recommend their state legislatures to adopt our arms into their militia service to the extent say of ten regiments is not almost certain that their advice would be taken & they would give their advice as soon as for one quantity or another if they had a very near relative who has a large pecuniary interest in the result & could satisfy themselves of the merits of the arms & would we not make ten times as much money ourselves out of such interest…The following is the style of resolution which I think is best adopted to our State operating & which will in my opinion insure us the greatest…profits. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of that the governor be instructed to apply to the President of the United States or such other proper authority as may be necessary to have three quarters of such part of the annual appropriation for arming the whole militia of the United States appropriation as many from time fell to this state be expended in the purchase of Colts Patent Repeating firearms until the number reserved shall be sufficient to arm ten regiments of one thousand men each provided the cast of said arms with all their equipment shall not exceed thirty dollars each…A resolution of this kind passed a state legislature would be an order for our arms amounting to $300,000 suppose that by making interest great & exertions this winter we should succeed in getting a resolution for this amount of arms through the legislatures of five principle states…Nearly one third of the present session of Congress & as yet no efforts have been made to do anything, on former occasions the involvements of the company have been tardy as to result the deficit …Therefore I buy that some immediate action of your board shall take place to promote a successful issue of our present favorable position.” In very good condition, with scattered light toning and soiling, several areas of crossed out text, done by Colt, wax remnants to last page preventing complete opening of page and expected folds. COA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
