To Thomas Jefferson from Fulwar Skipwith, 6 April 1803
From Fulwar Skipwith
Paris. 6 April 1803
Dear Sir
The bearer of this Mr. Thos. L. Halsey, a Gentleman of very distinguished connexions in the State of Rhode Island informed me of his intention of waiting on you soon after his return to his native Country, and having expressed his design of soliciting a grade in the army of the U.S. is willing to charge himself with a letter of recommendation from me, with others from several of your friends in Europe, in order to be presented to you. I need not invoke my feelings of friendship & partiality to this young Gentleman to say that his mind, manners, and education have been equally highly cultivated, and that by his travels in Europe, he has lost nothing of his attachment to his own Country.
With great respect & esteem, I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Mo Ob Servt
Fulwar Skipwith
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr. Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 8 Dec. and so recorded in SJL with notation “by mr Halsey.”
Thomas L. halsey also carried a letter of recommendation from James Monroe to TJ, which he delivered with Skipwith’s letter on 8 Dec. 1803 (Monroe to TJ, 28 Sep. 1803). He did not receive a military appointment, however, and was likewise unsuccessful in his application to be secretary of legation to Spain in 1804. In 1812, James Madison appointed him United States consul at Buenos Aires (; Arthur Fenner to TJ, 28 May 1804; Theodore Foster to TJ, 1 June 1804).