Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Thomas Jefferson to Elijah Griffiths, 28 May 1809

To Elijah Griffiths

Monticello May 28. 09.

Dear Sir

Your favor of Nov. 14. came to me in due time, but much oppressed with business then & to the end of my political term, I put it by as I did the civilities of my other1 friends till the leisure I expected here should permit me to acknolege them without the neglect of any public duty. I am very sensible of the kindness of the sentiments expressed in your letter, & of the general indulgence with which my republican friends generally, and those of Pensylvania particularly have viewed my public proceedings. I hope I may be allowed to say that they were always directed by a single view to the best interests of our country. in the electoral election, Pensylvania really spoke in a voice of thunder to the Monarchists of our country, and while that state continues so firm, with the solid mass of republicanism to the South & West, such efforts as we have lately seen in the anti-republican portion of our country cannot ultimately affect our security. our enemies may try their cajoleries with my successor. they will find him as immoveable in his republican principles as him whom they have honored with their peculiar enmity. the late pacification with England gives us a hope of 8. years of peaceable & wise administration within which time our revenue will be liberated from debt and be free to commence that splendid course of public improvement & wise application of the public contributions of which it remains for us to set the first example. I salute you with real esteem & respect.

Th: Jefferson

PoC (DLC); at foot of text: “Doctr Elijah Griffith. Phila.”

Elijah Griffiths (1769–1847), a physician in Philadelphia, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1804 and sent TJ a copy of his dissertation, An Essay on Ophthalmia, or Inflammation of the Eyes (Philadelphia, 1804; Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends no. 982). He worked at the Pennsylvania Hospital and with the Board of Health, 1809–16, and in 1821 he was elected a fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Griffiths and TJ occasionally corresponded on political matters (Robinson, Philadelphia Directory for 1809 description begins James Robinson, The Philadelphia Directory for 1809, 1809 description ends ; Lisabeth M. Holloway, Medical Obituaries: American Physicians’ Biographical Notices in Selected Medical Journals before 1907 [1981], 186).

Griffiths’s favor of 14 Nov. 1808 (DLC) assured TJ that the Republican party in Pennsylvania supported the new administration.

1Word added in margin.

Index Entries

  • An Essay on Ophthalmia, or Inflammation of the Eyes (Griffiths) search
  • Griffiths, Elijah; An Essay on Ophthalmia, or Inflammation of the Eyes search
  • Griffiths, Elijah; identified search
  • Griffiths, Elijah; letters to search
  • Griffiths, Elijah; TJ thanks search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; Republican party search
  • medicine; books on search
  • Pennsylvania; Republicans in, TJ comments on search
  • Republican party; TJ on search