Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 17 October 1806

Washington Oct. 17. 06.

Dear Sir

This will be handed you by mr Brodie, an English gentleman, looking out for a settlement in this country to which he may bring his family, & live in quiet & retirement. he proposes to purchase a farm which he will employ as a grazing farm, merely to give him something to do, depending on other resources for his principal support. he has a preference for our part of the country, & I have informed him that mr Henderson’s lands near Monticello, were for sale, & I believed mr Overton’s. I informed him the latter would be much the dearest, but had the advantage of the market of Charlottesville at it’s door for the productions of his farm, & of the garden should he add that to his plan, & that I would take 100. or 150. acres of it, to which he assents if he makes that purchase. he has been a year or two in this neighborhood & appears to be a very worthy & inoffensive man, & perfectly polite. I take the liberty of recommending him to you as a stranger who will be thankful to you for your advice & information for his conduct in any transaction which he may enter into. I had given him letters to yourself and mr Divers on a former occasion when he had proposed this journey. he got taken off from that by a prospect of a purchase here, which has since failed. Accept my affectionate salutations.

Th: Jefferson

MHi: Coolidge Collection.

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