Thomas Jefferson Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Gelston, David" AND Recipient="Jefferson, Thomas" AND Period="post-Madison Presidency"
sorted by: date (descending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-16-02-0162

David Gelston to Thomas Jefferson, 21 August 1820

From David Gelston

New York August 21st 1820—

Dear Sir,

It gave me much pleasure this morning, to receive your letter of the 13th from which I infer you enjoy good health—the two letters enclosed will be forwarded the very first good opportunity, which will probably offer in a few days.—

I also this morning received by the Comet, from Havre, a letter from Mr Beasley, enclosing bill of lading for a bale of books for you, which I shall ship to Richmond by the first good conveyance, after I have the means of ascertaining the duty, probably the invoice may be forwarded to you—

with very great respect & esteem,—I am; Dear Sir, your obedient servant,

David Gelston

RC (MHi); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esquire”; endorsed by TJ as received 25 Aug. 1820, but recorded in SJL as received a day later.

On 22 Aug. 1820 Gelston paid Griswolds & Coates, the New York firm that owned the Comet, two dollars for transporting a bale of books for TJ from Le Havre plus twenty cents for primage (“a charge to cover the cost of loading or unloading a ship” [OED description begins James A. H. Murray, J. A. Simpson, E. S. C. Weiner, and others, eds., The Oxford English Dictionary, 2d ed., 1989, 20 vols. description ends ]) (MS receipt in MHi; written in an unidentified hand on a small scrap; with notation at foot of text indicating that W. Hall Jr. had received payment on behalf of Griswolds & Coates).

Index Entries

  • Beasley, Reuben Gaunt; and books for TJ search
  • boats; carriage to and from Richmond search
  • boats; cost of transportation by search
  • Comet (ship) search
  • Gelston, David; and books for TJ search
  • Gelston, David; forwards letters for TJ search
  • Gelston, David; letters from search
  • Griswolds & Coates (New York firm) search
  • Hall, William, Jr. search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; works sent to search
  • Richmond, Va.; boat carriage to and from search
  • taxes; customs search