Influential American statesman and jurist (1755–1835) who served as the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Among the notable cases over which Marshall presided were the judicial review landmark Marbury v. Madison (1803) and the 1807 trial of Aaron Burr for treason. ALS signed “J. Marshall,” one page both sides, 6.5 x 8, September 12, 1820. Letter to Charles Carter. In full: “I have had a long conversation with the President of the Bank respecting the judgement against you & have represented to him the perfect security of the debt. He says that your letter was laid before the Board of Directors & that they were not inclined to renew the accommodation of which notice had been given you in a letter written to me some days past. He says however that it is probable proceedings under this judgement may be suspended on your making arrangements for the punctual payment of the interest & such curtails as may be necessary to require. He advises that you should come down for the purpose of effecting the object. I told him that you had been apprehensive of proceedings against your person; but he assured me that no step of that kind should be taken & that you might come down in safety. I think if you wish to make any arrangement whatever with the bank that you will do well to come down & see the board. I am persuaded that nothing can be done without your personal attention to the subject & with that I think it probable that the affair may be adjusted.” Integral second page bears an address panel addressed by Marshall. Several professional repairs to both pages, scattered edge wear and adhesive remnants, moderate show-through from text on reverse, intersecting folds, one through a single letter of signature, some scattered light brushing and running to ink, still completely legible, and a few small pinholes, otherwise very good condition.
There were many ‘Charles Carters’ in Virginia at the time, but family genealogies suggest that the recipient of this letter was the uncle of Marshall’s daughter-in-law, Margaret Wardrop Marshall. Although the jurist spent much of his adult life in Richmond, Virginia and Washington, D.C., he spent many summers with his family in Oak Hill, Virginia. Marshall proved to be such a doting parent that one year before this letter, he added an attached house to the Virginia homestead for his son, Thomas, and daughter-in-law Margaret...with that love spilling over to members of the extended family. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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