manuscript endorsement on folded letter datelined "Hartford August 2 1717", addressed to New London, Connecticut, very fine, one of the earliest letters from Hartford in private hands, the sender, Captain William Pitkin III, would later become Deputy Governor (1754-1766) and Governor (1766-1769) of Connecticut, mail marked "On His Majesty's Service" were either handled by military courier or sent by the post and reimbursed by the government