From the Library of a Congressman: The Original Publication of the Henry Papers During the War of 1812, Printed by James Madison for Members of Congress

From the collection of Dr. Otto O. Fisher, who bought primarily in the 1930s and 1940s, so this not been offered for sale in nearly a century

The Henry Letters were correspondence by an adventurer named John Henry with the Governor General of Canada, Sir James Craig in 1809. The letters documented Henry’s efforts to determine Federalist sympathies to have the New England states leave the United States and join the British Empire. A bundle of letters was sold to President James Madison for $50,000. The letters were fraudulent, but both the President and his fellow Republicans in Congress were deceived on the eve of the War of 1812. Henry left the United States for France shortly before the letters were made public on March 9, 1812 in a message to Congress by President Madison.

On March 9, 1812, James Madison wrote to Thomas Jefferson,, “As the Intelligencer will not publish the Message & documents just laid before Congress for the present Mail, I send you a copy of the former. It is justified by the Documents, among which are the original credential & instructions from the Govr of Canada, and an original dispatch from the Earl of Liverpool to him approving the conduct of the Secret Agent. This discovery, or rather formal proof of the Co-operation between the Eastern Junto, & the B. Cabinet will, it is to be hoped, not only prevent future evils from that source, but extract good out of the past.”

That same day, Madison had printed a pamphlet describing the contents of these documents. This is that book. We have not found another having reached the market, this being a print prior to the one later created by the same printer, Weightman.

Message From the President of the United States: transmitting copies of Certain Documents obtained from a Secret Agent of the British Government, employed in fomenting Disaffection to the Constituted Authorities… to destroy the Union of the United States.

“I lay before Congress copies of certain documents… They prove that…in negotiations on the part of the British government, through its public minister here, a secret agent was employed in certain states, more especially in Massachusetts, in fomenting disaffection to the constituted authorities of the nation…” Printed in Washington by Weightman, March 9, 1812. The recipient was Congressman Samuel Mitchell.

This copy predates the more common version, referencing its referral to the relevant foreign affairs committee and not printed for broad consumption. It bears the date of Madison’s release, March 9, 1812. As distributed, with sewing.