From Thomas Jefferson to John McAllister, 5 June 1804
To John McAllister
Washington June 5. 1804.
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of mr Mc.Alister to send him by mr Briggs a pair of spectacles of the small light kind which mr Mc.Alister has heretofore made on the particular model which was furnished him. and to send with them spare sets of glasses from the youngest to the oldest magnifiers. mr Barnes informs Th:J. that he has arranged with mr Mc.Alister not only the paiment for these, but to mr Briggs also for a couple of thermometers. he presents him his salutations
PoC (MHi); endorsed by TJ. Enclosed in TJ to Isaac Briggs, 5 June.
John McAllister (1753-1830) was a Glaswegian optician and craftsman who emigrated from Scotland in 1775. Initially working in New York City, he moved to Philadelphia in 1781 and later set up shop at 48 Chestnut Street, where he sold spectacles, whips, canes, and compasses. In 1803, he ended a three-year partnership with James Matthews and worked on his own until 1811, when he brought his namesake into the business as John McAllister & Son. TJ ordered eyeglasses for himself and others from the optician’s company in 1800, 1804, 1806, and 1808. Charles Willson Peale, who was also a customer, shared an interest with TJ and McAllister in improvements to bifocals (Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser, 17 May 1803, 8 Apr. 1811; , 2:1017, 1193; , 8:159, 192; Vol. 37:299; McAllister to TJ, 14 Nov. 1806; Peale to TJ, 12 Mch. 1807; TJ to McAllister, 16 Nov. 1808).
particular model: according to a letter to Charles Clay of 21 May 1815, TJ may have enclosed a drawing with his letter to McAllister in 1804 (, 8:279).