Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-04-02-0362

Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 3 February 1812

To Albert Gallatin

Monticello Feb. 3. 12.

Dear Sir

You are to consider me in this letter as a witness & not a sollicitor. it is written at the request of a mr James Dinsmore who lived in my family 10. years as a housejoiner, did all the housejoinery of my house, being one of the ablest of his calling, and one of the best men I have ever known. while I lived in Washington he applied to me for a Surveyor’s place for his brother John Dinsmore in the Western country. I recommended him to mr Briggs, who employed him, and I think has since spoken of him to me in very high terms. John’s health is now so much declined that he is become unequal to the labor of surveying, & is therefore settled on his farm with his family at Attacapas. the place of reciever of the public monies there1 is become vacant and he wishes it. I know nothing of him personally, but observing that similar2 dispositions run much in families, I am disposed from a knolege of his brother, to expect he is a good man also. but mr Briggs can give you his character from his own knolege. if a better man applies, you will of course give it to the better man. if none better, the object of this letter is to draw your attention to him. and, if not on this occasion, you may perhaps on some other, make advantageous use of him.

ever affectionately Yours

Th: Jefferson

RC (NHi: Gallatin Papers); addressed: “Albert Gallatin Secretary of the Treasury Washington”; franked and postmarked. PoC (DLC); endorsed by TJ.

TJ recommended john dinsmore to Isaac Briggs after appointing the latter surveyor of United States lands south of Tennessee (TJ to Briggs, 20 Apr. 1803, and Briggs to TJ, 2 May 1803 [DLC]).

1Word interlined.

2Word interlined.

Index Entries

  • Briggs, Isaac; surveyor of federal lands search
  • Dinsmore, James; seeks recommendation for brother search
  • Dinsmore, John; TJ recommends search
  • Gallatin, Albert; and appointments search
  • Gallatin, Albert; letters to search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; letters of application and recommendation from search
  • patronage; letters of application and recommendation from TJ search