James Garfield letter signed as President-Elect, dated 8 February 1881 on his ''Mentor, Ohio'' stationery. Garfield writes to James Gopsill, former mayor of Jersey City, declining an invitation by the Lincoln Club in honor of President Lincoln's birthday, writing, ''the many duties now pressing upon me will render it impossible'' to attend...[signed] J.A. Garfield''. Single page measures 5'' x 8''. Archival tape repair to verso and split starting at horizontal fold, overall very good.