Autograph Letter Signed, Liverpool, December 3, 1846, to William H. Richards, New York, written on two-page Liverpool Prices Current printed circular

quarto, one page letter, written on blank leaf of printed circular letter, Liverpool Prices Current, with stamp-less address leaf, well worn, with some loss of handwritten text from extensive separation along folds, repaired with archival tape.

1846, British Merchant condemns American Anti-Rent Movement

Goodwin could offer no "safe encouragement for a man on your side to ship to this … it hardly ever happens that a profit is made on such business except when the shipper anticipates an increase in our prices. Our Wool Market is dull and buyers complain of your American Wools being imperfectly washed and not regular in quality. Your wool dealers having something to learn in the trade … I thank you for a Newspaper. When you write next pray tell me what you think of the Anti-Rent movement, is it possible for that to succeed? Woe to your boasted liberty and constitution if it does and the tyranny of a King or an Aristocracy is better than that of selfish Mob. Do you in the States read Cooper's Novels? His latest series ending with Ravens Nest are occupying attention on this side of the Water."

The so-called "Anti-Rent War" of 1839-45 was a movement for land reform in upstate New York, where wealthy "patroons" owned all the land on which Hudson Valley tenants lived, and used feudal leases to maintain control of the region. After a virtual insurrection was suppressed by militia, and leaders of the revolt were tried on charges of riot and conspiracy, delegates from 11 counties met to create an Anti-Rent Party to redress their grievances by political action. As a result, by the time this letter was written in 1846, a new state Constitution had been adopted, adding provisions for tenant's rights, abolishing feudal tenures and leases, and, in effect, dissolving the remaining patroon manors. The "selfish" democratic "Mob" had triumphed.