Greely, Horace. Autograph letter signed ("Horace Greeley"), to Joel Benton, Esquire. "Office of the Tribune" letterhead. New York, 20 January 1864. 1p, 5 x 8  in. (folds, light toning, pencil notation on verso).

Greely informs Benton, likely the American writer and poet Joel Benton (1832-1911), that he will be unable to "say yes" (presumably to a meeting or speaking engagement) due to the time and difficulties associated with travel. "I am so absorbed in my History [Greeley's The American Conflict: A History of The Great Rebellion in the United States of America, 1860-'65] that I could not leave the city ... I try to work every day at least four hours on that History...." 

[With:] Greeley, Horace. Autograph letter signed ("Horace Greeley"), to John Diamond Esquire. "Office of the Tribune" letterhead. New York, 24 March 1860. 1p, 5 1/4 x 8 1/4 in. (folds, light toning). A retained copy in which Greeley indicates his refusal to sell a parcel of land to Diamond at the named price. Accompanied by the initial query from John E. Diamond, Esq. of Lord's Valley, Pennsylvania, to Greeley, 22 March 1860, extending an offer to purchase a lot owned by Greeley.