A rare survivor. The present is a 1.5pp ALS in the hand of Andrew Broaddus [1770-1848], one of the most influential Baptist divines of the early 19th century. He was ordained in 1791, and served two very influential Baptist churches, Salem (1820–48); and Upper King and Queen (1827–48). He was editor of the Christian Baptist from 1826-1830 and edited six Baptist hymnals. His memoir, sermons, and writings were published in 1852 with a biography by J. B. Jeter.
"Tuesday Evening, May 13th, 1834,
Colonel R. S. Motley,
Sir,
I was informed on Sunday afternoon by a friend of mine in Carolina that a report was whispered about, as coming from you, - very injurious to my reputation as a man - more so, as a Christian, and most abominable, considering me as a minister of the Gospel.
Having considered you as a friendly man, and conceive myself as having cherished a friendly dispositions towards you, I must own that this information appears strange to me and utternal ignorant as I am of any circumstance on which a charge of the sort alluded could be fabricated or whence the slightest supicion could arise, I could hardly give credit to the idea that you should have been the propagator of such a charge. I have received however such evidence as to induce me to make this call on you for an avowal or disapprovale of what has been attributed to you.
This, Sir, is an unpleasant affair and probably it is so to yourself as it is to me. But the nature of the case must be my apology for thus addressing you, as confident I am that no reflecting man can consider me as requiring any thing unreasonable in such a case as this. Be so obliging, sir, as to say by return of the bearer whether you will meet me at New Town, in the morning at 9 O'Clock. I am willing in the first instance, to try a private interview, with only one or two friends present; my only object being to ***** ****** as shall effectually invalidate, or rather annihilate, this shameful and abominably false report.
Sir , with due regard
Yrs
Andw Broaddus"
Badly worn and stained, though legible.