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.
1. This letter has not been found.
2. George 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 ( 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.).