To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Curson, 11 May 1784
From Richard Curson
Baltimore 11 May 1784.
Dr. Sir
The Wine from Mr. Stenson, hope reached you in safety, agreeable to the inclosed Bill. A Violent pain in my Head, for some days past, has depriv’d me noticing sooner, your obliging favor of the 25 Ulto.
The intelligence therein, did not a little astonish me; that one of your goodness of Heart should be taken in, by so worthless a Wretch.
The Letter &c. I sent you by Major Gamble, he took great pains to Permit1 his sending it on, which would have Occasioned his Visit much shorter, had I carelessly done so.
The tenderness he experienced at my House, I attribute to my Escape having lost nothing very considerable. His last Efforts to procure a Gold Watch, and two Valuable Horses &c. to proceed on. But I discovered such an extravagant turn, with the caution you gave me, I refused him, which caus’d some little difference between us. He press’d hard, my writing his pretended Father, but I declin’d it. Never saw a piece of Roguery so compleatly carried on, by one who Effected the Fool.
I understand he took his route to Philadelphia, by Water, being plentifully provided with Stores &c. Gratis.
I beg you will not regard the remittances you expect, and as I had equal pleasure with you in the performance of this business, I am very desirous of being a sharer with you in the loss, assuring you I am with great Respect Dr. Sir Your most Obedt. Servt.,
Richard Curson
RC (MHi).
See TJ to Curson, preceding; also John Banister to TJ, 15 Apr. 1784, and references there. The letter &C. … by Major Gamble is that referred to in Curson’s letter to TJ of 13 Apr.
1. Curson may have intended to write “prevent”; the sense of this complicated sentence is difficult to arrive at through the jungle of Curson’s syntax and punctuation, but evidently he was trying to say that the impostor took great pains to prevent the letters to TJ from being forwarded to Annapolis.