Thomas Jefferson to Charles Clay, 25 May 1815
To Charles Clay
May 25. 15.
Th:J. to mr Clay.
On the subject which has been passing between us I have had an offer from a person who has many proper points in his character, and would see both my plantations every day. altho my inclinations are as they were before, yet there is ground for consultation with you on comparative merits. this suggests that while it is necessary to sound the dispositions of the party first thought of thoroughly, it is best to commit me as little as possible, until I can communicate with you on the subject of the second offer. ever affectionately yours.
RC (Christian S. Hutter Jr., Charlottesville, 1945; photostat in ViU: TJP); dateline at foot of text; addressed: “Mr Clay”; endorsed by Clay. Not recorded in SJL.
The recent offer came from Joel Yancey, whom TJ hired later this month as the manager of the Bear Creek and Tomahawk plantations that comprised his Poplar Forest estate (TJ to Archibald Robertson, 1 June 1815).