Autographes

31176 — This powerful attorney and diplomat is best remembered for having prosecuted the Tweed Ring and Standard Oil; he also served as U.S. ambassador to Great Britain and head of the U.S. delegation to the second International Peace Conference at The Hague. TLS 2pp separate leaves 8" X 10½" New York NY 1908 February 25. Addressed to General Horatio C. King 1837-1918 Medal of Honor-winning Civil War officer. Very good. Lightly evenly age toned. King a Dickinson alumni whose uncle Charles was the college president served as Dickinson College trustee from 1896 to 1918 and also penned many of the school's songs. He had asked Choate to deliver an address on the occasion of Dickinson's 125th anniversary to which Choate here responds: "I regret very much to say that. I have found it utterly impossible to accept your invitation to attend the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of Dickinson College and deliver the address which I should have been glad to do on every account because of the importance of the occasion and especially because you as President of the Alumni have the matter in charge and are to preside on that occasion. But in truth I have found my time and attention to necessary duties so seriously invaded by what I have already done in that line during the present season that it is not possible for me to give any more time to it. As you will realize I have many matters personal professional and semi-public to which I am committed and which I cannot possibly neglect." Nice full signature. With small 4¼" X 6 3/4" turn-of-the-century book-weight likely a frontispiece portrait of Choate. unknown