William Wallace to Thomas Jefferson, 16 August 1821
From William Wallace
Richmond Augt 16th 1821
sir
Having on hand several Hhd of sound and fine flavour’d claret wine, which I sell to famelies at two and one half dollors ⅌ Doz. or at Seventy five cents ⅌ Galln by the Hhd the bottles are to be found by the purchaser, or charged at nine Dollors ⅌ groce, as claret wine in general sells from six to twelve dollors ⅌ Doz. some doubts might be entertained as to the soundness of quality, of what I offer at such a reduced price
However should you not have a plentifull suply on hand, try some of what I offer, which on trial will prove equal to that sold at the high prices
Wm Wallace
RC (DLC); dateline adjacent to closing; endorsed by TJ as received 18 Aug. 1821 and so recorded in SJL; with calculation by TJ at foot of text that at $9 per gross, a single bottle of claret would cost 6¼ cents. RC (DLC); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Daniel Brent, 31 Oct. 1822, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Monticello”; franked; postmarked Richmond, 16 Aug.