Eerie Canal,1825 Stampless Canal Boat Letter to Niagara Falls, Two Strikes of Blue "FREE" in Ornate Box, Manuscript "18 3/4" Rate

Stampless folded letter datelined “Canal Boat near Lyons” July 23, 1825. This two page letter is addressed to Augustus Porter, Esq., Postmaster at Niagara Falls, New York, and was written by his son while traveling on the Erie Canal. Blue circular UTICA N.Y. JUL/25 postmark, applied after Young Porter apparently stepped off to mail this at Utica and managed to persuade the postmaster there to mark free after initial rating of 18 3/4c rate.

Content includes “Dear Father, I arrived yesterday at Rochester in order to see Mr. Kennedy… I find Mr. Kennedy as expected, poor and I presume never can pay for the farm… he thinks he can sell it before the time limited and he believes for a higher price than the amount now due… He has a snug barn and there are about 50 or 60 acres improved, his house is of no value.”
“Mr. Beckwith had not arrived when I left Rochester but I requested Mr. Bolossom to say to him that Mr. Kennedy could not give a position and to answer as to what he should do…”
“I am getting on very pleasantly, My love to all, Yours affectionately, A. H. Porter.”