Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-15-02-0497

Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 April 1820

To James Madison

Monticello Apr. 11. 20.

Dear Sir

Our brewing for the use of the present year has been some time over. about the last of Oct. or beginning of Nov. we begin for the ensuing year, and malt and brew 3. 60 galln casks successively, which will give so many successive lessons to the person you send. on his return he can try his hand with you in order to discover what parts of the processes he will have learnt imperfectly, and come again to our spring brewing of a single cask in order to perfect himself, and go back to you to try his hand again on as much as you will want. you will want a house for malting, which is quickest made by digging into the steep side of a hill, so as to need a roof only, and you will want a haircloth also of the size of your loft to lay the grain on. this can only be had from Phila or N.Y.   I set out for Bedford the first of next week to be absent till the 1st week in May. I will give you notice in the fall when we are to commence malting and our malter and brewer is uncommonly intelligent and capable of giving instruction if your pupil is as ready at comprehending it. ever & affectionately yours

Th: Jefferson

RC (DLC: Madison Papers); endorsed by Madison. PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of James H. McCulloch to TJ, 25 Feb. 1820; edge chipped; at foot of text: “Mr Madison”; endorsed by TJ.

our malter and brewer: Peter Hemmings.

Index Entries

  • beer; brewed at Monticello search
  • brewing; at Monticello search
  • brewing; at Montpellier search
  • haircloth; for brewing search
  • Hemmings, Peter (TJ’s slave; b.1770); and Monticello brewery search
  • household articles; haircloth search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); and brewing search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); letters to search
  • malt-houses; described search
  • Monticello (TJ’s Albemarle Co. estate); brewery at search
  • Montpellier (Montpelier; J. Madison’s Orange Co. estate); brewing at search
  • slaves; and brewing search