(WARTIME MEXICO'S RUINED FINANCES)
$300.00
60078-12
HUGH MCCALMONT (1809-1887) Wealthy London stockbroker who donated much of his estate to city hospitals, having seen the great European cholera epidemic of 1832 ravage friends and family. Superb content A.L.S., "H. McCalmont", 4pp., 4to., Mexico City, Feb. 15, 1832, a report to his father on their business affairs in the midst of the war-torn Mexican economy. In part: "...The revolution has not been terminated so quickly as I then supposed it would be... Santana [Santa Ana] is still at the head of affairs in V [era] Cruz-- a considerable number of troops are at Pucute threatening an attack but nothing has yet been done... In business-- I am sorry... considering the times however really we should not complain... we have a good deal of money but the Exchange is very bad. What we have down is at 43 1/4...". McCalmont's letter contains several other interesting notes, including a trip he planned to take with a Dr. Beales, in part: "... Dr Beales... having some business in the North-- about some Grant I believe-- was looking for a companion...". Dr. John Charles Beales was a famed empresario (land speculator) and the grant McCalmont refers to is Beales' unsuccessful 1832 attempt to colonize Texas with a 55 million-acre grant from Mexico-- preceding Moses Austin. McCalmont also makes comments on the 1831 Baptist War, a slave uprising in Jamaica violently repressed by authorities: "...I think some of those Gentlemen have something to answer for in what has happened at Jamaica...". Moderate folds with minor holds at head of folds, age toned, else fine.