From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Brooke, [20 March 1796]
To Robert Brooke
[Monticello Mar. 20. 96.]1
Sir
I have lately recieved from Messrs. Grand & Co. the inclosed account of their transactions for the state of Virginia; which having all (except the last of them) taken place under my inspection, I have examined, and found them just, and so certified. It appears that a balance is thereon due to them from the state of 6931₶—9—6. I have taken the liberty of putting under your cover a letter to the Auditor, which if you will be so good as to peruse before you order it’s delivery to him, will explain to you an eventual reduction of the balance to 4997₶—6. Messrs. Grand & Co. are entitled to recieve the balance in specie livres, of which kind those were which were due to Houdon. As they have carried their whole balance into account against me, it will give me satisfaction to be able, when it shall suit your convenience, to inform them when and how they may expect paiment. I embrace with pleasure every occasion offered me of assuring you of the sentiments of sincere respect & esteem with which I have the honor to be your Excellency’s most obedt & most humble servt
Th: Jefferson
RC (DLC); clipped dateline supplied from PrC; at foot of text: “Governor Brooke”; endorsed. PrC (same); faded, with overwriting in ink by TJ (see note 1 below); endorsed in ink by TJ on verso. Tr (Vi); in an unknown hand; lacks dateline; with note by Governor James Monroe at foot of text: “15. March 1802 Note. The original was sent by post to Mr. Jefferson on this day to enable him to adjust the account of the artist Houdon.” Enclosures: (1) Enclosure No. 2 listed at Grand & Cie. to TJ, 25 May 1793 (first letter), bearing, as indicated there, the following certification added in TJ’s hand and signed by him:
“The state of Virginia authorised Dr. Franklin and myself to have a statue of Genl. Washington made. We agreed with Houdon to pay him for the marble and workmanshipº
and also to defray his expences to and from Virginia for taking the model, and the insurance of his life for the benefit of his family.
The state authorised Mr. Barclay to have two marble busts of M. de la Fayette made, one for themselves, the other for the city of Paris. They cost 3000₶ eachº
They authorised him also to purchase arms and ammunition. Mr. Grand acted as their banker. All the articles charged by Mr. Grand in this account are for some of these purposes, and are known to me to be just except that of 9000.₶ which was after I left France and of course neither of my knolege or authority. If this be also right as I suppose it to be, the balance of 6931₶—9—6 is justly due to Mr. Grand. Certified under my hand this 20th day of March 1796. Th: Jefferson”;
this certification appears also in the Tr. (2) TJ to John Pendleton, 20 Mch. 1796.
The auditor: John Pendleton. Due to Houdon: a reference to the payment owed for the statue of Washington commissioned by the state of Virginia from Jean Antoine Houdon (see Vol. 8: xxvii).
1. On PrC TJ overwrote a portion of the date—“17. 96.”—in ink, then interlined “20” in place of “17.”