To Thomas Jefferson from John Barnes, 14 September 1802
From John Barnes
Geo: Town. 14th. Sepr 1802.
Sir
Your two esteemed favrs: 7th & 10th: I recd Yesterday. with reference to Brown & Relf, I find my friend Mr. J. Richards paid them abt. 9th: May 1801. eight dolls: thro. me on your a/c, as by my Entry, & to your debit, the 13th of which, I shall write them for further explanation in order to its adjustmt:—your Minute of a/c to 4th Sep. agrees exactly with mine, to this day—having Yesterday Negociated, with the Treasury, a Warrant in your favr. for $2,500, as well, taken up your $2000 at Bank, reduces your a/c. to the sum mentioned $1767.91½–
To this Balance, I could with pleasure Bow, for two—or even four Mos. rather than have recourse to that painfull Alternative—more especialy in your Absence—and withal so soon after—the late one—
do thou, I pray you Sir, permit me to Accomodate you. I can—under no great inconveniency furnish you with the sum required at Richmond as you may direct—without Applying, as you are pleased to propose, which even admiting the trial, would I presume (—under present circumstances—) be informal, to their Bank regulations—Suffer me then to avoid these Mortifying incidents & to wait at lest, untill your return, your little supplies at Washington are easily Accomodated.—If then thro: Accident, you should not receive this, in time, to favr. me with Answer, by return of the Mail, say 20th. Inst. I purpose taking the liberty & risque upon myself, of transmiting Messrs: Gibson & Jefferson said $1200, subject to your Order.—
I have to intreat your excuse for any seeming inadvertencies (not intentionally advanced)—
but, with unfeigned regard, Esteem, & Respect, wherewith—I am Sir, your most Obedt. Servt.—
John Barnes
RC (ViU: Edgehill-Randolph Papers); at foot of text: “President UStates, at Monticello”; endorsed by TJ as received 16 Sep. and so recorded in SJL.
TWO ESTEEMED FAVRS: TJ’s letter to Barnes of 7 Sep. 1802 is recorded in SJL, but has not been found. The letter from TJ of 10 Sep. mentioned above probably refers to a letter to Barnes recorded in SJL at 9 Sep., but which likewise has not been found.
Andrew BROWN, Jr., and Samuel RELF published the Philadelphia Gazette from July 1799 to September 1801, when Relf became the newspaper’s sole publisher (, 2:1012; , 2:911). For the payment of $8 to them by John RICHARDS in May 1801, see Barnes’s sketch of TJ’s account, 14 May 1801 (Vol. 36:690).
PAINFULL ALTERNATIVE: presumably another bank loan.
SUM REQUIRED AT RICHMOND: see TJ to George Jefferson, 5 Oct. 1802.