Mathew Carey to Thomas Jefferson, 1 December 1821
From Mathew Carey
Philada Decr 1. 1821
Dear sir,
You will excuse, I hope, the liberty I take in requesting information, of some importance in a discussion in which I am engaged.
Can you inform me what was the situation of the people of Virginia, & the other southern states, respecting their engagements to the merchants of Great Britain previous to the Revolution?1 Were they not, generally, deeply in debt? Was not the balance as generally against this Country?
Your attention to this subject will greatly oblige
Mathew Carey
RC (MHi); dateline at foot of text; endorsed by TJ as received 9 Dec. 1821 and so recorded in SJL. RC (DLC: TJ Papers, 226:40393); address cover only; with Dft of TJ to Philip S. Physick, [3 Apr. 1824], on verso; addressed: “Hon Thos Jefferson, Esqr Expresident U.S. Monticello”; franked; postmarked Philadelphia, 1 Dec.
1. Preceding four words interlined.