To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Attwood Digges, 20 February 1807
Warburton nr. Piscaty Feb. [20]th 1807
Dear Sir
A long confinement to my chamber (with a Rhumatic and Pluracy complaint) will I hope plead my excuse for troubling You to read a letter in lieu of giving an ansr. by personal enquiry.
I have a very favourable opportunity & mean shortly to send a relative of mine (a Lad of abot 15 yrs. old) to Spain.—there to fix him for 6 or 8 yrs. in order to attain the Language and merchantile advantages of that Country.—If my old acquaintance Mr. Young is still at Madrid, & likely to remain there a little longer, my wishes thereby would be half accomplishd: for I have known him ever since his being put on shore in England, a state prisoner with Mr. Laurens, to whom He was private secretary; and he owes to me the good luck of getting hastily from England to Dr Franklyn at Paris instead of being put to prison with some hundred American Prisoners then under my care. I ever knew Mr Young a valuable, prudent & firm Republican, and it gave me great pleasure when You kindly reinstated Him to his post at Madrid some year or two past.
All I want to know if he is yet in Spain under Your employ and likely to be there a little longer?
My boy passing will drop this, & call to know if any ansr. I am quite in a nook here, and by some ill luck of the Postrider I have not seen a paper since that of the 6th, so that I have only to hope all is going on well to the westward, that the neck of the Conspiracy is broken, and that the perpetrators may meet their just reward. With the best wishes for Your long preservation & personal happiness I remain with
Sincere regard & esteem Dr Sir yr. ob Hle. Sert
Thos Digges
PS Accustomd as I have been to ask & recieve favours from You I am sure I too bold by step from one to another. The solicitation I made to You by letter to Monticello to assist me with the Postmaster Genl. “to get the Alexadria postmastership given, when vacant, to my nephew Jno. Fitzgerald” is likely to be tested in a very few days by the death of Mr. Washn Craik—for I learn from his Phisician & friends he is nearly exhausted. Dr. Logan with his usual goodness, personally assisted my nephews solicitation with Mr. Granger about a month back; who told the Doctor that my Nephews recommendations stood very high, and altho there were many applicants, one other stood so equally well recommended & that he was so undecided, that he meant to submit the nomination to The President, after shewing the pretensions of each applicant.
If fate decides it in his favr. I am very confidant the office will be faithfully & well attended to.
MHi: Coolidge Collection.