To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Patton, 9 February 1805
From Robert Patton
Post office Philada. 9th Feby. 1805
Sir,
I have recieved your polite note of the 6th inst. and in compliance with your request, I have this day forwarded, the letter you entrusted to my care, for Thomas Paine, under cover to the Post Master at New York.
I am Sir, With the greatest respect Your obedient Servt.
Robt. Patton
RC (DLC); at head of text: “The President United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 11 Feb. and so recorded in SJL.
your polite note: not found. It is likely that at some time prior to 6 Feb., TJ forwarded to Patton, the Philadelphia postmaster, his 15 Jan. letter to Thomas Paine, as Paine had earlier stated his intention to depart for Washington, via Philadelphia, in the second week of January. On 3 Feb., TJ received Paine’s letter of 25 Jan., which informed TJ that Paine would be unable to make the journey. TJ likely wrote to Patton to have his letter to Paine forwarded on to New York (Paine to TJ, 1 Jan.; Paine to TJ, 25 Jan.; Paine to TJ, 20 Apr., second enclosure).