Henry H. Sherman to Thomas Jefferson, 3 June 1821
From Henry H. Sherman
Baltimore 3d June 1821
Sir
Perhaps you will be somewhat surprised at what I am about to write, but Sir I have a particular reason for doing it—you may Sir recollect of receiveing a 4to Vol. entitled Statisicl Annals of the U. States, from Mr Frederic A. Mayo. there is annother 4to Vol. entitled Drydens Fables—Those 2 Vols. were bound in a superor style, the reason of my writing to you on this subject is Mr Mayo has exhibited them all-over Richmond and the general supposition was that they were his own work
I Bound both Vols. my self, I drew the Plan, I selected the tools, in short I done the whole—it is better than one year since I bound them1 I can bring forward a number to prove that they were my own work,=the Principle reason of my writing is, that I think I ought to have a little of the Creadit as well as Mr M. to have all.2 it is true I did work for Mr M. at the time=I am sir an American born & my Father & Grand Father before me—I was left alone without father or Mother at nine years of age—the Man that I was bound to for the purpose of learning the trade did not know his business & I was oblige to shurk for myself—I am oblige to work as a journyman for I am not able to purchase tools for myself—as I have a family to support—but I am in hope that kind providence will turn to me some time or other=I am at work for Mr J. Botner in Calvert St. I have ben told lately that you did not receve the books till a few weeks since theey must be verry much defece’d for Mr M. has shewe[d] them to evry person that he was acquainted with—that you cannot be mistaken in the books—they had Collumns on the sides & Silk inside the board[s.] I hope that you will not take any offince at this, Sir—from your verry humble Servent.
Henry H. Sherman
RC (MHi); edge trimmed; endorsed by TJ as received 15 June 1821 and so recorded in SJL. RC (MHi); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to David Hosack, 12 July 1821, on verso; addressed: “Mr Thomas Jefferson Esq. Montecelo Va.”; stamp canceled; franked; postmarked Baltimore, 5 June.
Shirk (shurk) here means “to shift or fend for oneself” ( ).
1. Sherman here canceled “which.”
2. Omitted period at right margin editorially supplied.
Index Entries
- books; binding of search
- Bottner, Joseph search
- Dryden, John; Fables, Ancient and Modern search
- Fables, Ancient and Modern (J. Dryden) search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; binding of books search
- Mayo, Frederick August; as employer search
- Seybert, Adam; Statistical Annals search
- Sherman, Henry H.; as bookbinder search
- Sherman, Henry H.; family of search
- Sherman, Henry H.; letter from search
- Statistical Annals (A. Seybert) search