Franz X. Zeltner to Thomas Jefferson, 14 April 1819
From Franz X. Zeltner
Saleure en Suisse le 14 Avril 1819
Monsieur
Jai reçu1 il y a peu2 de jours, la lettre que vous mavez fait l’honeur de m’ecrire3 le 23d Juilet 1818 et au moment que je la4 suis adréssé a vos autorites5 pour me6 faire doner un extrait mortuaire du Général Kosciuszko dument7 légalise pour8 vous l’envoyer9 par votre10 Minister à Paris. j’apprens, que votre charge d’affaires11 en France vient d’en faire la demande au nom de Monsieur Galatin afin12 de pouvoir executer dans les Etats unis de l’Amerique un legs13 fait pas le defunt14 et que cet Acte alloit être expédié Je regrette que le retard qu’eprouve votre lettre ne mait pas permis de Satisfaire plutot à votre désir de mettre en execution les volontes15 bienfaisantes et philantropique16 du grand home, que nous pleurons, Jai l’honeur de vous remercier du detail interressant que vous me donez dans votre lettre au Sujet de vos émigrés et vous prie d’agréer l’assurance de ma plus haute Estime et de mon respectueux dévouement17
F: X: Zeltner
Editors’ Translation
Solothurn in Switzerland 14 April 1819
Sir
A few days ago I received the letter you did me the honor of writing to me on 23 July 1818, and as soon as I read it I contacted your authorities in order to obtain a duly authenticated extract of General Kosciuszko’s death certificate to send to you through your minister in Paris. I learn that your chargé d’affaires in France has just requested it in Mr. Gallatin’s name so that he could execute a bequest of the deceased in the United States of America and that this document would be sent. I am sorry that the delay experienced by your letter did not let me act sooner on your desire to implement the benevolent and philanthropic wishes of the great man we mourn. I have the honor of thanking you for the interesting details about your immigrants you provided me in your letter, and I beg you please to accept the assurance of my highest esteem and respectful devotion
F: X: Zeltner
Tr (DNA: RG 21, CCDCCR); docketed in part as “Defendants Exhibit F.” and “Mr Zeltners 2d Letter to Mr Jefferson”; used in Washington County, D.C., chancery case 105, Armstrong v. Lear. Tr (DNA: RG 267, SCACF, box 141, case 1303, Armstrong v. Lear). Translation by Dr. Genevieve Moene. Probably enclosed in TJ to William Wirt, 5 Feb. 1820.
Daniel Sheldon, the secretary of the United States legation in Paris, 1816–28, acted as charge d’affaires there in 1817, 1818, and 1823–24 (, 3:39, 621 [1, 3 Apr. 1816, 11 Dec. 1828]; Register of the Department of State [1874], 73).
1. Manuscript: “resu.”
2. Manuscript: “feu.”
3. RG 21 Tr: “m’ecire.” RG 267 Tr: “mecire.”
4. Manuscript: “lue.”
5. RG 21 Tr: “autoriles.” RG 267 Tr: “autoreles.”
6. Manuscript: “sue.”
7. Manuscript: “demnent.”
8. Manuscript: “pous.”
9. Manuscript: “l’envayer.”
10. Manuscript: “vatre.”
11. Manuscript: “de’affairs.”
12. Manuscript: “afen.”
13. Manuscript: “leg.”
14. Manuscript: “defant.”
15. RG 21 Tr: “valonles.” RG 267 Tr: “valones.”
16. Manuscript: “philantrepique.”
17. Manuscript: “dèvoument.”
Index Entries
- French language; letters in, from; F. X. Zeltner search
- Gallatin, Albert; and T. Kosciuszko’s estate search
- immigration; from Switzerland search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Business and Financial Affairs; and T. Kosciuszko’s estate search
- Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (Thaddeus) Andrzej Bonawentura; death of search
- Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (Thaddeus) Andrzej Bonawentura; estate of search
- Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (Thaddeus) Andrzej Bonawentura; plan to emancipate and educate American slaves search
- Sheldon, Daniel; as secretary of U.S. legation in Paris search
- slaves; T. Kosciuszko’s plan to emancipate and educate search
- Switzerland; emigrants from search
- Zeltner, Franz Xaver; and emigrants from Switzerland search
- Zeltner, Franz Xaver; and T. Kosciuszko’s death search
- Zeltner, Franz Xaver; letters from search