Manuscript in the hand of Mason Locke Weems of "A Conversation
Item #77923
WEEMS, Mason Locke. Manuscript in the hand of Mason Locke Weems of "A Conversation between General Marion & a Whig Boy," a section of Weems's and Peter Horry's biography of Gen. Francis Marion. [Woodbridge, VA? ca. 1808-09]. Approximately 415 words in manuscript on [3]pp. on half of a folio sheet. [with] WEEMS, Mason Locke, and HORRY, Peter. The Life of Gen. Francis Marion.... Phila.: Joseph Allen, 1841. [8],251,[1]pp. Frontis. Manuscript: Old folds. Right edge of recto unevenly torn, affecting a few letters of text. A few spots of spilled ink, some damage to lower margin due to ink burn (affecting two letters of text). Book: Contemporary calf, spine ruled in gilt, brown morocco gilt label. Boards lightly rubbed, corners bumped, joints starting to split, textblock split (but holding). Light tanning and foxing throughout. About very good overall. A working manuscript draft in the hand of Mason Locke Weems of a section from Chapter 14 of The Life of Gen. Francis Marion... (pp.120-22 in the accompanying copy). The section is titled "A Conversation between General Marion & a Whig Boy," and describes a scene just after Marion and his men have taken a brief rest in Waccamaw. A boy has been sent by his father to warn Marion that Tory forces are gathering up the Little Pedee (Pee Dee) River. Marion is calm and sanguine in his reply to the news, "Very well my son I thank you and your daddy too for letting me know it. I believe I must try to meet the tories there." The boy is almost incredulous at Marion's cool demeanor: "O la sir general try to meet em indeed! yes, to be sure! dear me sirs hearts alive that you must, sir general! for daddy says as how he is quite sartin if you'll be there tomorrow night you may make a proper smash amoung the tories...." The boy goes on to explain that the Tories have heard of Marion, and that they're coming after him with "a tarnal nation sight of pistols! and bagonets! and swords! and saddles! and bridles and the dear knows what else besides!" As he goes on, the boy grows a bit unsure of Marion: "But to be sure sir general, you look like a mighty small man to fight them great big tories there on Pedee. But daddy says as how the heart is all and he says too that though you are a little man you have a monstrous great heart!" The manuscript text is almost identical to t.
Price: $6,500.00