Private secretary (1838–1905) to and, later, biographer of Abraham Lincoln who later served as secretary of state under McKinley and Roosevelt. ALS, one page both sides, 4.5 x 7, Department of State letterhead, April 28, 1901. Marked “Private & personal” at the top of the page, Hay writes Mr. Noyes regarding “the Alaska question” and the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty that opened the door for the Panama Canal. In part: “You refer to a newspaper story that the Alaska question will be considered in connection with it. I am sure you do not want to prejudice people in advance against what we are trying to do, and I therefore assure that the Alaska Question has never been mentioned in the discussion either by me or by Lord Pauncefote. I am trying my best to make the sort of treaty which I would know would suit you, and I hope you will not be led to oppose it in advance on account of entirely unfounded reports from this side or the other.” In fine condition, with pencil notations at the top of the first page, and an old dealer’s catalog description pasted vertically along the left side of the first page. RRAuction COA.
