Thomas Jefferson Papers
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William F. Gray to Thomas Jefferson, 20 January 1820

From William F. Gray

Fredbg Jany 20th 1820

Respected Sir,

Annexed I present a full statement of my a/c against you from the time that I have been favourd with your orders. If found correct, you will oblige me by an early remittance of the bal. in the way most convenient to yourself.—

I owe you an apology for not having furnished the Book that you ordered a long time ago. The fact was I failed to get it of two correspondents to whom I wrote, and I at last lost sight of it.—I hope you have long ere this supplied yourself with it from some more fortunate, or more prudent Bookseller.—

I should before this have effected an establishment at Charlottesville, as you kindly advised, had my means been equal to my views; but the pecuniary embarrassments of the times have been visited upon my poor concerns, in their full proportion. The ensueing spring I calculated certainly to have placed a handsome assortment of Books there, unde[r] a worthy young man whom I had engaged for the purpose; but I have just learned, that some active Yankees have anticipated me and that the ground is fully occupied.—I fear, therefore, I shall be compelled to abandon it.—

Accept, Sir, my thanks for the portion of your custom I have enjoyed; and also for your kindness in the advice and friendship you so freely proffered.—I shall continue to forward the Reviews to you, and await your further orders for any other articles.—

With much respect, Your Obliged Svt.

Wm F. Gray

RC (DLC); edge trimmed; address cover on verso of enclosure; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson, Esq. Montecello”; franked; postmarked; endorsed by TJ as received 27 Jan. 1820 and so recorded in SJL.

The book TJ ordered a long time ago was likely Nathaniel Bowditch, The New American Practical Navigator (4th ed., New York, 1817) (TJ to Gray, 8 Nov. 1818 and 4 Apr. 1819).

Index Entries

  • Bowditch, Nathaniel; The New American Practical Navigator search
  • Charlottesville, Va.; bookstore proposed for search
  • Edinburgh Review; TJ subscribes to search
  • Gray, William Fairfax; and bookstore for Charlottesville search
  • Gray, William Fairfax; as bookseller search
  • Gray, William Fairfax; letters from search
  • Gray, William Fairfax; TJ orders books from search
  • Gray, William Fairfax; TJ’s account with search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; subscriptions search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; account with W. F. Gray search
  • navigation; study of search
  • subscriptions, for publications; journals search
  • The New American Practical Navigator (N. Bowditch) search