Thomas Jefferson Papers
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To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Smith, 10 July 1804

From Samuel Smith

Balt. 10. July 1804

Sir/

Permit me to have the honor of presenting to you Mr. Peter Hoffman, a Merchant of this City, of the first respectability, Independence & political Rectitude—he Visits you in Company with Mr. J. G. Rapp—who has emigrated at the head of a large number of persons lately Subjects of the Duke of Wirtemberg, in whose behalf he will present a Memorial & State their Wishes—I have on looking at the Law passed in favor of Dufour & Associates, in 1802, been led to hope that Congress would pass a similar Law in Behalf of those people—Their making a Settlement so far in land would unquestionably Induce other persons to establish in their Neighbourhood & thus Enhance the Value of the public Land—I Need not offer Observation to you on a subject so well understood by you—but take farther this liberty to pray you to give some Attention to the Views of those people & the Observations of my good friend Mr. Hoffman & have the honor to be

Your Obedt servt.

S. Smith

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 12 July and so recorded in SJL.

similar Law: in order to encourage the production of domestic wines, Congress had allowed Swiss vinedresser John James Dufour and his associates to purchase up to four sections of land “between the Great Miami river and the Indian boundary line” for the standard two dollars an acre, payable without interest within 11 years (U.S. Statutes at Large description begins Richard Peters, ed., The Public Statutes at Large of the United States … 1789 to March 3, 1845, Boston, 1855-56, 8 vols. description ends , 6:47-8; Vol. 36:376n). Under the general acts in force for sale of public lands, purchasers could buy land at no interest, but would need to repay the government within four years and in annual installments, with a six percent penalty applied to late payments (U.S. Statutes at Large description begins Richard Peters, ed., The Public Statutes at Large of the United States … 1789 to March 3, 1845, Boston, 1855-56, 8 vols. description ends , 2:281; Vol. 33:197).

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