James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Patrick Gibson, 14 May 1805

From Patrick Gibson

Richmond 14th: May 1805

Sir

Mr. Jefferson having left town, and not expecting his return for some weeks, I have taken the liberty of opening your letter to him of the 11th. May1 inclosing an order for your Tobacco. I have not yet had time to enquire whether any of our purchasers saw it inspected, but hope many have, as however highly a crop may be recommended, it cannot command the same price, as if seen & approved of. After having collected the opinions of the Inspectors and others who may have seen it I shall do myself the pleasure of writing to you again. Tobacco (by the Parcel unknown) dull at 34/6 on 60d/—good qualities still maintain their prices from 40 to 50/.—With respect I am Sir Your ob Servt:

Patrick Gibson

Gibson & Jefferson2

RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.

1This letter has not been found.

2George Jefferson (1748–1812), Thomas Jefferson’s first cousin once-removed, had founded the Richmond firm of George Jefferson & Co. in 1797. By 1800 he and his partner Patrick Gibson had set up in business as Gibson & Jefferson. British emigrant Patrick Gibson (ca. 1775–1827) carried on the business after Jefferson was named consul at Lisbon in 1811 (Boyd, Papers of Thomas Jefferson, description begins Julian P. Boyd et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (36 vols. to date; Princeton, N.J., 1950–). description ends 29:578 n.; Bear and Stanton, Jefferson’s Memorandum Books, 2:1019, 1021; J. Jefferson Looney et al., eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series [6 vols. to date; Princeton, N.J., 2004—], 4:523 n.).

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