1877 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT LETTER BY NOTED REVEREND IMPLORING THE SINGER SEWING COMPANY TO HELP PROVIDE A MEANS OF INCOME TO THE DRESSMAKERS AND SEWING GIRLS WHO LOST ALL IN THE MASSIVE FIRE THAT DESTROYED HALF THE CITY SAINT JOHN NEW BRUNSWICK

On offer is an interesting and significant manuscript letter dated July 7th 1877 Saint John New Brunswick wherein Reverend D.M. Maclise, Pastor of the Calvin Church, writes mere days after the Great Saint John Fire, to the Singer Sewing Company a four [4] page letter imploring them to, like other manufacturers, sell or donate sewing machines as the 'conflagration which has consumed more than half of this city, [leaving] many dressmakers and sewing girls have lost all and thereby deprived of all means of support. A sewing machine to them is indispensible.' He goes on to mention the Chicago company - the leading manufacturer - selling machines at half price. Historians and researchers of the era and New Brunswick will find the letter relates significantly to the social study and class structure prevalent in Saint John of the time. Save for a one inch 'v' shape cut at the fold and a small hold protected by tape the letter is VG.