ALS, one page both sides, 8 x 10, July 8, 1856. Handwritten letter to attorney William Belknap, in full: “Your letter of the 26 June is before me and while I regret the failure so far, to locate my land warrant, yet I duly estimate the kind motives which led to its retention. I can only say that I shall be satisfied to learn Its deposition to your own judgment. If you think it best to retain it until your land offices are again open, do so, or if you conclude that It had better be at once located in Min[n]esota or elsewhere, then I have to ask you to do me the favor to forward it for me to some reliable person Who will undertake the task. You must know my D[ea]r Sir that I have thrown it out upon the water as a sort of waif under the hope rather than the expectation, that it might settle down where those who are to come after me may find it of some value. Convinced of your desire in this respect, to advance my wishes, I am quite unwilling to substitute any other for yourself. Be pleased therefore to act in my case as you would in your own, and either retain the warrant for a future day in Iowa, or forward it to some person elsewhere on whom you can rely.” The second integral page is hand-addressed and free-franked by Tyler, who signs as “J. Tyler.” In very good to fine condition, with intersecting folds, and some soiling to address panel.
Belknap, an army general and government administrator, was admitted to the bar in 1851, after which he moved to Keokuk and began practicing law. A year after receiving Tyler's letter, he served a single term in the Iowa House of Representatives and would later serve as secretary of war under Ulysses S. Grant. Belknap holds the distinction of being the only Cabinet member to be impeached for accepting bribes in exchange for political appointments.
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