To Thomas Jefferson from John Sullivan, with Account of Expenses for Obtaining Moose Skeleton, 26 April 1787
From John Sullivan, with Account of Expenses for Obtaining Moose Skeleton
Durham April 26th. 1787
Dear Sir
This Letter comes by my good friend Captain Samuel Pierce on board of whose vessel I send a Large Box containing the Articles mentioned in the Inclosed Account, which will show you the amount of Expences. A copy of my directions to him which I also inclose will show the means used by me to forward those expensive Curiosities to you. Capt. Pierce from motives of friendship for me has engaged to transport it to England and forward it to havre De Grace without any Expence except what may be Demanded for the Conveyance from England to France. And from motives of friendship for you I only Charge for the expences I have paid in Cash without any thing for my own Trouble which has been very considerable. I wish them safe to hand and am very respectfully sir Your most obedt. Servt.,
Jno. Sullivan
Enclosure
To Jno. Sullivan
RC (DLC). Recorded in SJL as received 1 Sep. 1787 (TJ did not receive Sullivan’s letters of 16 and 17 Apr. and 29 May until 26 Sep. 1787). Enclosures: (1) Account of expenses, as above (DLC). (2) Sullivan to Samuel Pearce, 26 Apr. 1787, informing him that the box in his custody “contains the skin, horns and skeleton of a Moose; the horns of the Carribou, Elk, Deer and the spike horn’d Buck”; also requesting him to keep the box right side up as directed; to “preserve it from wet, and give it as much air as possible, without exposing it to heat”; and to send it to the American consul at Le Havre “with my letter to him and the other to Governor Jefferson” (DLC). This letter and enclosure were sent to TJ with Sullivan’s of 9 May 1787, q.v.