Thomas Jefferson to Oliver Barrett, 29 March 1812
To Oliver Barrett
Monticello Mar. 29. 12.
Sir
On the 20th of Feb. I wrote to you requesting you to forward for me to Messrs Gibson & Jefferson of Richmond one of your Spinning machines carrying not more than 20. threads, but fewer if that number increased sensibly it’s complicatedness,1 and assuring you that on knowing from you the price it should be immediately remitted to N. York to any address you would indicate. this will be by messrs Gibson & Jefferson beforementioned. in consequence of this letter I suspended an order I had given for a machine of a different kind in another quarter. not having heard from you, and apprehending my letter may have miscarried, I repeat the essential parts of it here, and renew my request that you will forward one with as little delay as possible, and in the mean time that you will let me know whether & when I may count on your forwarding one; as the order for the other one of a different kind remains suspended, and the year is advancing during which our winter cloathing should be going on. Accept the assurance of my respect.
Th: Jefferson
PoC (MHi); adjacent to signature: “Mr Oliver Barrett”; endorsed by TJ; notation by TJ at foot of text: “inclosed under cover to Genl Bailey.” Enclosed in TJ to Theodorus Bailey, 29 Mar. 1812, not found and not recorded in SJL, but acknowledged in Bailey to TJ, 7 Apr. 1812.
1. Manuscript: “complicateness.”