Thomas Jefferson Papers

John Wickham to Thomas Jefferson, 22 May 1810

From John Wickham

Richmond 22d May 1810.

Sir,

Mr Mann delivered me your Letter of the 18th Inst. & I lost no Time in making your wishes known to Messrs Hay and Wirt who assure me they shall be duly attended to—

Circumstanced as I am my engaging as your Counsel in Mr Livingstons Suit against You, if not in itself improper, might wear the Face of being so; I must therefore, though sensible of the Honor, beg Leave to decline it.—As was stated in my Letter of the 16th Inst. I was induced to take out the process, from the short Interval between that Time and the meeting of the Federal Court, although I reserved to myself the Right of appearing in his Behalf or not as I should afterward see fit.—As You can feel no Interest in the motives that determined me to this Course it would be improper to trouble You with them, nor should I have mentioned the Circumstance in my former Letter but for the Reasons then assigned—

With great Esteem & Respect I am Sir Your obedient Servant.

Jno Wickham

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr”; endorsed by TJ as received 27 May 1810 and so recorded in SJL.

Index Entries

  • Batture Sainte Marie, controversy over; TJ assembles counsel search
  • Hay, George; TJ hires as counsel search
  • Mann, William; delivers letter search
  • United States Circuit Court, Virginia District; and batture controversy search
  • Wickham, John; and batture controversy search
  • Wickham, John; letters from search
  • Wirt, William; TJ hires as counsel search