To Thomas Jefferson from William Irvin, 2 July 1803
From William Irvin
Albemarle 2d. July 1803.
Worthy & Dear Sir,
If the Prayer of my Son’s Letter, which encloses this, could meet your Approbation, I should be highly gratified. I must take it for granted that you have no Acquaintance with his Person, & perhaps as little with his Character. Prudence forbids my saying much in the Case: I would only beg Leave to say, that such is his Steadiness and Attention to Business, that I hope He would not disappoint the publick Confidence.
I am happy, Sir, that you preside over the Union, & still farther happy, should this Line find you enjoying Health of Body & Tranquility of Mind. With the unremitted Esteem of Thirty years, I have the Honour, Sir, to subscribe my self
Your cordial Friend, & very huml. Servant
William Irvin
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); endorsed by TJ as received 7 July and “John Irvin to be Register Zaneville” and so recorded in SJL.
William Irvin (1744–1809) was a Presbyterian minister in Albemarle County who became pastor of the Cove and Rockfish Churches. In 1776, the year his ties to the Rockfish Church dissolved, he favored religious disestablishment and signed the Petition of Dissenters in Albemarle and Amherst counties. He and his wife Elizabeth Holt Irvin had ten children, including a son, John, who became county magistrate (, 232–4; Vol. 1:585–9).