Benedict's Letter to Merchant John Alexander

 

Benedict Swingate Calvert's Letter

Mt. Airy, June 14, 1784

We purchased this letter from an antiquarian book site a few years ago.  In it, Benedict states, "I am greatly in want of some good Spirits for Sir. Robert Eden who I expect in a day or two.  Shall be obliged to you if you will buy for me ten gallons,  and send it by the bearer with a small box of Imported Candles.  I shall be obliged to you for the amount of the above articles that I may contrive you the money.  The family joins me in Compliments to Mr. Fitzgerald and I am Your Very Humble Servant, Benedict Calvert."

Baronet Robert Eden, who was the last Royal Governor of Maryland, lost his position during the American Revolution of 1776 and returned to England. He was married to Benedict's half-sister, Caroline Eden, which had continued the Eden-Calvert alliance before the Revolution.  Benedict is writing the letter to Mr. John Fitzgerald, who was a wealthy merchant in Alexandria, Virginia, and who had also been George Washington's aide-de-camp during the Revolutionary War.  Of course, Benedict and George Washington shared grandchildren and George Washington raised two of them:  Nelly Parke Custis and George Washington Parke Custis.   Here are a few more photos of the letter.  

This is the back of the letter where another hand has written Benedict's. name and the date.  You can also see where the sealing wax was.

And here is another page of the letter where he wrote the address after he folded the letter.  It was mailed to "Colonel John Fitzgerald, Merchant in Alexandria," with writing in the lower left corner that, I believe, names the person with whom he is sending the letter, "Mr. Alex Soaper."