1799 Yellow Fever Evacuation Cover+Letter U.S. Treasury Comptroller John Steele Free Frank Signed with Trenton New Jersey Postmark

1799 U.S. Treasury Department letter signed by the first Comptroller of the Treasury John Steele, featuring early evacuation August 28, 1799 Trenton, New Jersey postmark. This letter was written and mailed during the temporary relocation of the Treasury Department due to the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia.

The Treasury Department operated out of Trenton, NJ, from late August to November in 1799 due to another yellow fever outbreak in Philadelphia. Government letters postmarked from Trenton during this brief relocation window are not common in postal history collections. Based on recorded Philadelphia evacuation and Trenton arrival dates, it is probable that this letter was written in Philadelphia on August 22 and carried to Trenton where it was postmarked on August 28th.

Letter Transcription:

Treasury Department, Comptroller’s Office
22nd August 1799

Sir,

I have this day received your letter of the 1st instant.

Your claim has been admitted to be the property of the Government, and payment duly authorized.

The accounts of the property will be made the business of the Supervisor of Massachusetts, and he will notify the necessary steps for its adjustment.

The accounts of property of this description are arranged as the summary method of settlement, in order that the business of the revenue may be closed with as much dispatch as practicable, and that all accounts in the Treasury may be settled at the earliest period.

I beg leave to refer you to him.

I am, Sir,
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

(Signed) J. Steele, Comptroller

To William Tuck, Esquire
Gloucester, Massachusetts