Thomas Jefferson Papers

George P. Stevenson to Thomas Jefferson, 28 April 1815

From George P. Stevenson

Baltimore April 28th 1815—

Dear sir

Beleiving it may be pleasing to you to learn the passing events of the world, I take the liberty to subjoin copy of a letter received this morning by Express from my partner in New York—Wonders will never cease—; farther particulars may be expected tomorrow when I will forward them to you—

“New York April 26th 6 O.Clock P:M:

I hasten to advise you for the information of our friends that the schooner Sîne-qua-non has just arrived here in 25 days from La Rochelle bringing the following important and wonderful tidings—

Buonaparte landed with 600 men at Frejus the last of February, was joined by Berthier with 20,000 men, & entered Paris on the 20th March at the head of 80,000 men.—Louis and his family had gone to England—. Buonaparte had issued his proclamation announcing his reascending the throne of France, & had order,d the sequestration of all British Property.—The captain of the Sîne-qua-non says that the tri-colored flag had been flying ten days at La Rochelle.—The schooner has brought Paris-papers detailing the wondrous story, & giving the names of the different Functionaries appointed by the Emperor, amongst the most conspicuous of whom are his old friends Bassano & Soult.

This no matter how strange and how unaccountable is nevertheless true”—

The world will probably undergo some material change upon this grand & sudden event—and I am much in hopes our late enemy may be the sufferer in the end—

With best respects to those around you, in which mrs S— joins me—

I have the honor to be Yr Obed Servt

Geo: P: Stevenson

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ. RC (MHi); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Joel Yancey, 7 June 1815, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqre Monticello near Milton Va”; franked; postmarked Baltimore, 28 Apr. Recorded in SJL as received 3 May 1815.

Stevenson’s partner was his brother-in-law Thomas P. Goodwin (New-York Evening Post, 5 Nov. 1816; “The Goodwins of Baltimore, Maryland,” WMQ description begins William and Mary Quarterly, 1892–  description ends , 1st ser., 8 [1899]: 110–1). The information in Goodwin’s letter came from Captain Pond of the Sine Qua Non and from the Paris Moniteur. The New York National Advocate, 27 Apr. 1815, quoted both sources.

Index Entries

  • Bassano, Hugues Bernard Maret, duc de search
  • Berthier, Louis Alexandre, Prince de Neuchâtel search
  • Gazette nationale, ou, Le Moniteur universel (Paris newspapersearch
  • Goodwin, Thomas Parkin search
  • Louis XVIII, king of France; flees France search
  • Napoleon I, emperor of France; returns to power search
  • National Advocate (New York newspaper) search
  • newspapers; French search
  • newspapers; New York National Advocate search
  • New York (city); newspapers search
  • New York (state); newspapers search
  • Paris; newspapers search
  • Pond, Capt. (ship captain) search
  • Sine Qua Non (ship) search
  • Soult, Nicolas Jean de Dieu; rejoins Napoleon search
  • Stevenson, Elizabeth Goodwin (George P. Stevenson’s wife); sends greetings to TJ search
  • Stevenson, George Pitt; letters from search
  • Stevenson, George Pitt; sends news to TJ search