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ETHAN A. HITCHCOCK [to HERBERT H.D. PEIRCE] : 1899 ORIGINAL TYPED LETTER SENT BY THE U.S. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR ETHAN A. HITCHCOCK TO THE SECRETARY OF THE U.S. EMBASSY IN RUSSIA, DISCUSSING THE UPCOMING 1900 PARIS WORLD’S FAIR AND U.S.-RUSSIA RELATIONS

4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. On offer is an interesting letter sent by Ethan A. Hitchcock, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior under Presidents William McKinley and Herbert H. D. Peirce, a the First Secretary of the U.S. Embassy in St. Petersburg, Russia. The letterhead reads, “Department of the Interior, Washington.” and is dated, “September 25, 1899.” The letter is two pages long and concerns a few different subjects. Firstly, Mr. Hitchcock extends pleasantries towards Mr. Peirce, saying, “we are glad to know of the arrival of the Friesland, and presume that you and the family are safely established...” He then lets gives a quick update to Mr. Peirce of his latest news, saying he returned home safely on the “good steamer St. Louis,” but only after “just escaping, however, a severe hurricane of one day’s duration.” He writes that he will be leaving Washington soon “with the President and Cabinet for Chicago, and a further tour in the West.” Finally, the longest paragraph records some frustration with the plans for the upcoming 1900 World’s Fair in Paris (also known as the Exposition Universelle). Hitchcock writes that he found a recent letter by “Mr. Peck” to be “eminently unsatisfactory, as he does not seem to take hold of, or grasp the situation.” The Mr. Peck, Hitchcock is referring to is Chicago businessman Ferdinand Peck, whom President William McKinley had chose as commissioner-general to the exposition. What Mr. Peck is failing to do could not be determined by me, but Hitchcock goes on to give some details, by asking Peirce to “write me a letter....to the State Department pointing out the opportunities and advantages of availing the goodwill and assistance of the Russian Government in this matter, with an explanation of the enormous advantages to our American exhibitors at Paris...something may be accomplished.” Hitchcock finishes the paragraph by stating that “it does seem too bad to let such an opportunity for extending our commercial relations with Russia...fail for want of action.” Hitchcock is clearly asking for Peirce’s help in setting Ferdinand Peck straight. The letter is finished with warm regards and a signature by E. A. Hitchcock. The letter is two pages long, typed, and in very good condition. There is almost no age-toning of the letter whatsoever, and the ink is still dark and fresh-looking, especially the “Department of the Interior” letterhead. Mr. Hitchcock’s signature is clear, handwritten in black ink. (Background: Herbert Henry Davis Peirce (May 11, 1849 - December 5, 1914) was a United States diplomat who served as Third Assistant Secretary of State from 1901 to 1906 and as U.S. Ambassador to Norway from 1906 to 1911. Ethan Allen Hitchcock (September 19, 1835 - April 9, 1909) served under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt as U.S. Secretary of the Interior. President McKinley appointed him Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia in 1897 and in February 1898 Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, the first Ambassador accredited from the United States to the court of Russia. He was recalled in 1898 to serve in first McKinley's and then his successor, Roosevelt's, Cabinet. As Secretary of the Interior, Hitchcock pursued a vigorous program for the conservation of natural resources and reorganized the administration of Native American affairs. Hitchcock died April 9, 1909, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 73. Hitchcock was buried at the Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.) OVERALL: VG+. Manuscript. Book Condition: Very Good +

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