Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to Jean B. Desdoity, 5 August 1793

To Jean B. Desdoity

Aug. 5. 1793.1

[Dear Sir]

[…]2 favor of […]3 Grand & Co. of Paris. I am always glad to recieve their commands, and shall with chearfulness testify it in rendering you any service I can. In the particular case on which you are pleased to consult me, I will observe that4 though the law of the United states requires a residence of two years to make a citizen, yet some of the states admit a citizen on shorter residence, perhaps some of them without any residence at all. If you will therefore give yourself the trouble of enquiring into the rules of citizenship established by the different states, you will probably find some of them adapted to your situation and views, and if you can make yourself a citizen of any one state, you are thereby a citizen of every one. There is no other way of hastening your attainment of that character, as there is no power in this country to dispense with the laws. I have the honor to be with due respect, Sir Your most obedt. humble servt.

Th: Jefferson

PrC (DLC); with dateline added in ink, possibly at a later date, and salutation and most of first line of text badly faded; at foot of text: “M. Desdoity. mercht. New York.”

Desdoity’s favor was dated 31 July 1793.

1Dateline added in ink by TJ, with “Aug.” written over “July.”

2Estimated three or four words illegible.

3Estimated four or five words illegible.

4TJ here canceled “the different states.”

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