1913 Handwritten Letter to John A. Stewart from Canadian Solicitor General Rodolphe Lemieux

Letter reads:

Ottawa, June 26th 1913
Dear M. Stewart,
I am very sorry to say that on account of illness in my family I am unable to accept the kind invitation of the Committee for the 3rd of July at Chautauqua N.Y.
With sincere regrets, I remain Dear Mr. Stewart,
Yours truly,
Rodolphe Lemieux
-
John A Stewart Esq.
50 Church St.
N.Y.

Lemieux was serving as MP for Rouville from 1911–1917 and the recipient of this note is possibly John Aikman Stewart (1822-1926), Chairman of the Executive Committee of the American Peace Centenary Committee.

Rodolphe Lemieux (1866-1937) was a Canadian parliamentarian and long time Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons (1922–1930). After a career as a journalist, lawyer, and law professor, he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1896 election as a Liberal. He was a loyal follower of Sir Wilfrid Laurier and, in 1904 became Solicitor General of Canada in Laurier's Cabinet, and later serving as Postmaster General of Canada, Minister of Labour and Minister of Marine and Fisheries. His Deputy Minister in the Department of Labour was future Prime Minister of Canada, William Lyon Mackenzie King. On June 30, 1930, King appointed Lemieux to the Canadian Senate, where he served until his death in 1937.

Letter written on Cowan watermarked page folded to 8 x 5 inches, written only on the front and back. There is an anachronistic annotation on the back page, and the outside corners are torn off. Tearing at the middle crease has also started at both ends. Good condition.