From Thomas Jefferson to James Taylor, Jr., 29 January 1804
To James Taylor, Jr.
Washington Jan. 29. 1804.
Sir
Immediately on the reciept of your favor of Dec. 29. I desired mr Barnes to remit you 94.68 D the balance due to you which I presume he has done. I used formerly to be supplied from Norfolk with moulded candles of Myrtle wax, sometimes indeed so adulterated as to be unfit for use, but sometimes pure & good. when such, I prefer them for my own use to any candle on account of their cleanness & fragrance. if you could furnish me with 100. ℔. of sufficiently pure, & of the larger size I should be glad of them. I have been so troublesome to my friend Colo. Newton with my cyder commissions & others, that I have avoided trespassing on him this year: but were you to meet with Hughs’s crab cyder, genuine & good, 3. or 4 barrels would be very acceptable. but they must come double-cased, or they will come half-water, as has happened on the way from Norfolk with all I have had hitherto from thence. Accept my salutations & respects.
Th: Jefferson
PrC (MHi); at foot of text: “Mr. Taylor”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso.
Taylor’s favor, recorded in SJL as received 7 Jan., has not been found. A previous letter from Taylor of 22 Nov. 1803, recorded in SJL as received 2 Dec., and TJ’s response of 3 Dec. have also not been found.