To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 19 April 1804
From Albert Gallatin
Washington 19 Ap. 1804
Dear Sir
I have received this moment your two letters of the 15th instt., and immediately sent Govr.’s Page letter to the President of the office of disct. & deposit here, and a copy to the President of the Bank at Philada.—They understand the manner in which the business is carried on within the Bank & its offices, and will take the best steps to ascertain the facts.
On the subject of the collectorship at Norfolk, no previous movement here, nor time is wanted for winding up Mr Davies’s business; but, on being informed of Mr W. C. Nicholas’s intention to accept, I will at once write to Mr Davies that he may resign, and to Mr Nicholas the time when he may repair to Norfolk. Until I hear from him or from you I will continue silent.
The commissions for Indiantown may remain till you return. Mr Lomax declines going to Natchez. I will enquire but not appoint any person till your return.
With sincere respect your obedt. Servt.
Albert Gallatin
RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received from the Treasury Department on 23 Apr. and “Logwood’s forgeries—Davies & W.C.N.—Indian town.—Lomax” and so recorded in SJL.
In 1801, Joseph Carleton was elected president of the office of Discount and Deposit, the Washington branch of the Bank of the United States, and an 1803 report on the election of the bank’s directors listed Carleton first among the 13 men chosen. In a letter of 29 June to Thomas Willing, president of the national bank, Gallatin implied that previous communications concerning the ring of counterfeiters suggested that the conspirators had likely fabricated ties to employees of the Bank of the United States. It “has been usual with the members of the combination,” Gallatin wrote, “to pretend … that their connections with Officers of the Bank … would secure them against the danger of discovery.” He also requested help from Willing in the ongoing efforts to find “legal evidence” against conspirators in North Carolina, a possibility mentioned in John Page’s letter of 12 Apr. (Philadelphia Gazette, 28 Nov. 1801; Washington Federalist, 7 Feb. 1803; , 9:798).