From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 6 March 1804
To Albert Gallatin
Mar. 6. 04.
Th:J. to mr Gallatin
The inclosed paper got mislaid by accident so as to escape my earlier attention. I do not know how far the office of a director of the bank is compatible with mr Nourse’s official duties, or the general spirit of our laws. I leave it therefore altogether to your judgment, only observing that if these admit his acceptance, I believe the bank cannot associate to themselves an honester man.
RC (NHi: Gallatin Papers); addressed: “The Secretary of the Treasury”; endorsed. Not recorded in SJL. Enclosure: probably an undated communication recorded in SJL as received from the Treasury Department on 29 Feb. 1804 with notation “Nourse bank director” but not found.
Joseph Nourse, register of the Treasury, became a director of the Washington branch of the Bank of the United States (New-York Gazette & General Advertiser, 14 Mch. 1806; Alexandria Daily Gazette, 16 Feb. 1809, 9 Mch. 1810; TJ to Gallatin, 13 Dec. 1803).