Letter from Eli Whitney to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; December 21, 1860

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Letter from Eli Whitney to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; December 21, 1860

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People

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889 McMicken, Unknown Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Sykes, Walter L.Thornton, Unknown Whitney, Eli, 1820-1895

Organizations and Businesses

Post offices Whitney Armory

Places

Connecticut Jackson (Miss.)New Haven (Conn.)New York (N.Y.)Washington (D.C.)Whitneyville (Conn.)

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Office of Whitneyville Armory,
WHITNEYVILLE, (near New Haven, Conn.,) Dec 21^st 1860

To His Excel^cy Gov^r Pettus
Jackson

Dear Sir

I have rec^d your letter & seen Col. Davis at Washington. I have agreed to submit the Rifles to Major Thorntons Inspection to the extent of 1000 to be deliv^d 300 in 30 days, 300 in 60 days & 400 in three mos. Arms to be inspected when put together. I have however stipulated before I make any further deliveries of arms to Misspi that I am to be paid for those rec^d by

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you and that subsequent deliveries are to be made & paid for in N. York in N. Y. City funds. Col Jef^son Davis has written you no doubt before this. I send you a statement of a/c of arms deliv^d to the state of Miss. I will thank you to cause a remittance to be made at once per Express in specie for amount thus due, & appoint the agent to act for Misspi in N. Y. & by the time this is accomplished I will be ready for an Inspection & shall wait until then before I call Major Thornton to my armory. As you want the arms I will throw no obstacle in the way of your having them at the earliest moment on the above

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mentioned conditions. Mr Mcmicken wishes 80 Rifles but I can deliver no more until I am paid for those already furnished. I have not seen Mr. M. but know of his want or wishes thro' a Telegraph he sent to Col Davis at Washington from N. Haven while I was there.

I am, Sir,
very Resply
Your obt servt
Eli Whitney

Please send letters to me per U. S. mail as they will reach me sooner than by Express.

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P. S. P. M.

I have seen Mr. M.^cMicken & he has shewn me your order for the 80 Rifles & as a matter of accomodation to you & to him I have consented to let him have them_ He has examined each one & has ex-pressed himself fully satisfied with them. I send you his certificate of inspection. I also send bill for these & will thank you to remit. Mr. M^cMicken will see you on his return & report to you the State of the Arms I am about to furnish Misspi. I shall take no farther steps than to be ready to Call on Major Thornton to Inspect—as soon as I receive the Amount of the enclosed bill_ I think you will understand matters better after seeing Mr. M^cMicken. If Major Thornton had been simply ordered to inspect the Miss Rifles according to Contract It is my opinion you would have had 1000 by this time.

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I could have sold the arms twice over & have had great difficulty in holding on to them when Genl Sykes had virtually repudiated the Contract. I sent you the 60 as sample & agreed that all I sent should be as good as sample. They were not a better Cat than those I have deliv^d Mr. M^cM. & expect to furnish Misspi.

I am Sir
Very Resply
Your obt servt
Eli Whitney

Account of bill ren^d $426 0 00/100