A Breach of Privilege: Cilley Family Letters, 1820-1867

by Eve Anderson

Unique among collections of letters, these never before published communications have not been completely read by family members since the early twentieth century. For years they lay stored in an attic and came to light only after the death of a direct family descendent. It took nearly five years to transcribe the collection and arrange it into a coherent story. As one of the least publicized political crimes of the nineteenth century, the killing of Congressman Jonathan Cilley stands out as a chapter of American history that would certainly be lost had this book not been written. A Breach of Privilege is a fascinating authentic narrative of a life of extraordinary potential tragically cut short because of political corruption. It is a story of great love and heartrending sorrow, but it is also one in which the human spirit triumphs over the most devastating of circumstances. As tragic as the story is, it manages to show that humor, even in incredibly difficult circumstances, can achieve a solace and mending of the soul. If nothing else, the story of the Cilley family is one of resilience and great love of country; so great that the loss of his life was secondary to Jonathan Cilley compared to his honor and standing firm for his principles.

520 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2002