Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Rhode Island (1707–1785) and a delegate to the Continental Congress. Rare ALS signed on an affixed slip, “Step. Hopkins,” one page, 6.5 x 8.25, August 2, 1755. Letter to an unidentified genteman. In full: “This Moment I rec’d a letter from Gov’r [James] Delancey [of New York] enclosing the Copy of one from Capt. Orme giving an account of the Defeat and Death of Gen’l Braddock and many of his Officers and men. This is an event of so much Consequence to all the Colonys that I thought it my Duty to send it to you by Express not knowing you would receive it from any other quarter. I shall immediately call our Genl. Assembly together and recomend [sic] to them in the strongest manner the doing everything within their Power toward repairing this unhappy Loss and preventing any other of the same Nature. What Method will be thought most effectual by the Colonys for such a purpose I cannot yet tell but am in hopes all will exert themselves to the Utmost.” Signed in pencil on the reverse: “L J Cist / July 4 1876.”
This letter was in the collection of Cincinnati banker and poet Lewis J. Cist (1818-1885) and was part of his estate comprising over 11,000 autographs which were sold in New York City by Bangs & Co. in four auctions, 1886-1887. In a lengthy article by Cist titled “Revolutionary Relics,” published in the July 6, 1880 edition of “The New York Times,” noted that it was “Originally Contributed to the Cincinnati Commercial.” Cist writes that he celebrates July 4th by looking through his book of letters penned by the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and describes 13 letters in his collection, one from each of “the original thirteen.”
He quotes this letter in full, noting, in part, “To add his trembling sign-manual to the Declaration, [Stephen Hopkins] was obliged while writing to grasp his right wrist with his no less unsteady left hand, but as he did so he said: ‘If my hand trembles, John Bull will find my heart won’t!’…Owing to this affliction, autograph letters of Hopkins are extremely rare, and most collections contain only his signature, appended to some official letter or document as Governor of Rhode Island. For this reason I am not able to offer a ‘Revolutionary letter’ from his pen. I am, however, fortunate in the possession of a letter, entirely in his handwriting, to the Governor of one of the sister colonies (probably Connecticut), which is of no less historical interest, written on receipt of the news of Braddock’s defeat, and relating to the measures to be taken in consequence. Braddock’s defeat occurred on the 9th of July, and his death four days later, on the 13th. From Hopkins’s letter it appears to have taken three weeks for the news to reach Rhode Island.” The text of this letter follows, ending with “and Most Humble Servt, Step. Hopkins,” implying that the signature was present, undoubtedly affixed by Cist to this letter.
This Hopkins letter later found its way into the autograph collection of New York attorney Adrian H. Joline (1850-1912); it may have been purchased by him at one of the Cist estate auctions. In his “Meditations of an Autograph Collector” (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1902), Joline writes, in part, “Then I contemplate my humble collection of the ‘Signers’…Those experts who turn up the nose of scorn at anything except an A. L. S. of 1776 may, perhaps, scoff at my examples, but I derive much comfort from them.” Letter has been professionally inlaid to a slightly larger sheet. In fine condition, with a mild overall shade of toning. In his 1995 reference History Comes to Life, Kenneth Rendell places Hopkins’s autograph material into the “rare” category among the Signers. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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