Thomas Jefferson Papers
You searched for: “Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel; TJ on” with filters: Recipient="Madison, James"
sorted by: date (ascending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-09-02-0173

Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 December 1815

To James Madison

Monticello Dec. 22. 15.

Dear Sir

Declining in every possible case to harrass you with sollicitations for office, I yet venture to do it in cases of science and of great merit, because in so doing I am sure I consult your partialities as well as my own. mr Hassler furnishes an occasion of doing this. you will find his character, his situation and claims stated in the inclosed letter from Rob. Patterson, whose integrity & qualifications to judge of mr Hassler’s merit cannot need any additional testimony from me, altho’ I conscientiously join my opinions & wishes to his.

The case of Dupont, the grandson I have warmly at heart. the father has merit for his establishments of gunpowder & of broadcloth. but no foreigner stands more prominently for us than the grandfather. he has been intimately known to me 30. years, and during that time I can testify that there has been no more zealous American out of America. from 1784. to 1789. while at the head of a bureau of commerce in France I was under infinite obligations to him for patronising in every way in his power1 our commercial intercourse with France. I considered him as among the ablest and most honest men in France, & in the foremost rank of their science: but all this is so well known to yourself, as he is also personally, that my dwelling on it is merely to gratify my own affections.

I inclose a letter from mr Spafford who being personally known to you, and not to myself I forward it merely ut valeat quantum valere debet. God bless you and aid you in the numerous good things you have brought under the notice of the present legislature

Th: Jefferson

RC (DLC: Madison Papers); at foot of text: “The President of the US.”; endorsed by Madison. PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover of Mary Blair Andrews to TJ, 16 Oct. 1815; mutilated at seal; endorsed by TJ. Enclosures: (1) Robert Patterson to TJ, 2 Dec. 1815. (2) Victor du Pont’s Notes on Samuel F. Du Pont, [ca. 7 Dec. 1815] (see Pierre Samuel Du Pont de Nemours to TJ, 7 Dec. 1815). (3) Horatio G. Spafford to TJ, 18 Nov. 1815.

ut valeat quantum valere debet: “so that it may have as much effect as it should.”

1Preceding six words interlined.

Index Entries

  • Du Pont, Samuel Francis; seeks naval appointment search
  • du Pont, Victor Marie; TJ on search
  • Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel; TJ on search
  • Hassler, Ferdinand Rudolph; financial claim on U.S. of search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); and appointments search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); and F. R. Hassler’s claim search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); and H. G. Spafford search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); letters to search
  • Patterson, Robert; and F. R. Hassler’s claim search
  • Spafford, Horatio Gates; and J. Madison search
  • Spafford, Horatio Gates; seeks appointment search