From Thomas Jefferson to George Muter, 29 January 1781

To George Muter

In Council Jan. 29. 1781.

Sir

The habitual drunkenness of Colo. Warneck renders him in the opinion of the board unfit to be longer trusted with the execution of the duties of an engineer. Should he chuse (on your intimating this to him) to resign, the board are disposed to give him what assistance they may justifiably: otherwise it becomes necessary that you take proper measures for trying him by a proper court in order to reduce him. I am Sir your very humble servt.

Th: Jefferson

RC (Vi); addressed and endorsed.

Colo. Warneck: Frederick Warneck (or Warnick) had been appointed “Engineer for the Service of this Commonwealth” on 18 Oct. 1777 (Va. Council Jour. description begins Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia, ed. H. R. McIlwaine description ends , ii, 12). About this time he fell into the hands of the enemy and gave a parole, the validity of which TJ questioned; see TJ to Steuben, 17 Feb., and proceedings of Council, 20 Feb. (Va. Council Jour. description begins Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia, ed. H. R. McIlwaine description ends , ii, 297).

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Source Project: Jefferson Papers
Title: From Thomas Jefferson to George Muter, 29 January 1781
Author: Jefferson, Thomas
Recipient: Muter, George
Date: 29 January 1781

Reference

Cite as: “From Thomas Jefferson to George Muter, 29 January 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-04-02-0575. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 4, 1 October 1780 – 24 February 1781, ed. Julian P. Boyd. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1951, p. 474.]

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