To Thomas Jefferson from Pierre Poinsot des Essarts, 5 April 1787
From Pierre Poinsot des Essarts
St. Germain, 5 Apr. 1787. Desires to send to Washington a copy of the writings of one of his relations, and wishes to receive as soon as possible “les armes De cet homme illustre.”
RC (DLC); 2 p.; in French; signed: “Des Essarts Cte De Bouville”; endorsed; at foot of text: “Je Demeure Ruë de verneuil faubourg St. germain no. 5.” Recorded in SJL as received 3 May 1787 at Aix-en-Provence.
Two days before TJ received this request for a copy of Washington’s coat of arms (presumably desired for use in making the binding), Madame des Essarts forwarded to Washington the two-volume edition of the works of her father, C. H. P. de Chamousset, published early in 1787. Washington acknowledged the gift on 8 Jan. 1788 (Washington, Writings, ed. Fitzpatrick, xxix, 362–3; see also Cat. of Washington Coll. in Boston Athenæum, p. 483).