AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS)

Louisville, KY, 3 February 1870. Letter. Normal creases from folding; some bleedthrough of ink. Near Fine. A 2-page letter on the front and verso of a 5-1/8" x 8" sheet of blindstamped Galt House letterhead addressed to Mr. Grinnell and SIGNED as "P. T. Barnum." In full: "I enclose a letter from Congressman Kellogg according to my agreement with you. You know I much wanted to have my son in law D. W. Thompson promoted to Weigher and that you promised he should at least be re-instated to Inspector during the month of January. My wife writes me that he is much disheartened to be so long unemployed. I stop at Washington next week & could bring you letters from half the U.S. Senators, but as Senator Ferry has already asked it as a personal favor & Senator Fenton has asked it & far above all, as you have promised it, no further steps can be necessary on my part. I shall be home next week and for heaven's sake don't let me appear before you any longer in the character of a mendicant, but let me come as your Grateful & much obliged Friend." In a postscript initialed "P.T.B.," he provides David W. Thompson's address along with a further testimonial to his abilities. An integral blank leaf, now detached, bears an affixed PSA/DNA label.