Thomas Jefferson Papers

David Bailie Warden to Thomas Jefferson, 26 January 1811

From David Bailie Warden

Washington, 26 Jan. 1811—

Sir,

I beg leave to inform you that I have written to my friend Doctor Stephenson to send you,1 as soon as possible, some of the Fioren grass, which will no doubt as you observe, be a very valuable acquisition in this Country.—

I am almost ashamed to renew the subject of my appointment to you, but my unfortunate situation obliges me to state that the President informed me today that he cannot nominate me at present—I propose to remain2 here a few weeks in hopes that he will decide in my favor, tho’ he does not give me much encouragement—He mentioned that Mr. Russel had been destined as Consul for Paris, and that perhaps he will wish to occupy that place when supplanted by a Minister Mr Russel declared to me, and to several of my friends that he had refused it when offered to him bye General Armstrong; and observed, that he would not be troubled with an office which was attended with much labor and little profit, and that his Commercial pursuits and family would not allow3 him to remain long at Paris. My numerous friends in New York Philadelphia, and Baltimore have written to many of the Senators and Representatives4 in my behalf; and I have reason to believe that this body will not refuse to5 confirm the Presidents nomination.—Mr. Duane has given me all his interest, and has written warmly in my favor to some of the Senators. The mass of Republican Irishmen, established in this Country, are interested in my success, and have declared that they will feel obligations to the President if he nominates6 me as Consul to Paris7—To you they are deeply grateful—In new York and Baltimore they offered me a public dinner, which, in the mean time, I thought proper to refuse as it might rouse General Armstrongs resentment—He has declared to several Individuals8 that he will not oppose me in any respect.9 He, I understand, left Town yesterday—you will please Sir, to pardon the liberty I take in mentioning these particulars—

I saw Mr Dufief, at Philadelphia, who informed me that he has not Toulongeons’ Work—I inquired for it at Several Booksellers, and it appears that it is unknown in this Country

I pray you to present my respects to Mr and Mrs Randolph & family—I am, Sir, with great esteem and respect Your ever obliged Servant

David Bailie Warden

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esquire”; endorsed by TJ as received 2 Mar. 1811 and so recorded in SJL. FC (MdHi: Warden Letterbook); dated 19 Jan. 1811; in Warden’s hand; lacks closing.

TJ did not receive a copy of François Emmanuel Vicomte de Toulongeon’s work, Histoire de France depuis la Révolution de 1789, 7 vols. (Paris, 1801–10; Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends no. 240; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library [1829] description ends , 4 [no. 88]), until September 1813 (Warden to TJ, 1 Apr. 1813).

1FC: “me.”

2FC: “wait.”

3FC: “permit.”

4Preceding two words omitted in FC.

5Preceding two words interlined.

6FC: “reappoints.”

7Preceding four words omitted in FC.

8FC: “persons.”

9FC ends here.

Index Entries

  • Armstrong, John; and D. B. Warden search
  • Baltimore, Md.; dinner for D. B. Warden search
  • Duane, William; and D. B. Warden search
  • Dufief, Nicolas Gouin; bookseller search
  • fiorin grass; sent to TJ search
  • grass; fiorin search
  • Histoire de France (F. E. Toulongeon) search
  • Ireland; plants in search
  • Madison, James; and D. B. Warden search
  • New York (city); dinner for D. B. Warden search
  • Randolph, Martha Jefferson (Patsy; TJ’s daughter; Thomas Mann Randolph’s wife); greetings to search
  • Randolph, Thomas Mann (1768–1828) (TJ’s son-in-law; Martha Jefferson Randolph’s husband); greetings to search
  • Republican party; and Irishmen search
  • Russell, Jonathan; and D. B. Warden search
  • Stephenson, Samuel Martin; and fiorin grass search
  • Toulongeon, François Emmanuel, vicomte de; Histoire de France search
  • Warden, David Bailie; and consular nomination search
  • Warden, David Bailie; and fiorin grass search
  • Warden, David Bailie; and J. Armstrong search
  • Warden, David Bailie; letters from search