William J. Coffee to Thomas Jefferson, [1 September?] 1820
From William J. Coffee
New, York Sept 1–1820 no 501—Greenwich St
Honbl & Respected Sir
I arrived in New York on the 18 of July much fatigued with a Journey of 1203 miles by Land, that is from Monticello to Canada & from Canada to N. York Via—Albany, and as Soon as I was recoverd from a slight Indisposition owing to the Heat of the season, I search out the proper person for the Information you wished to have as related to your Engine,
At No 293 Pearl, St. New, York lives a man by the name of Able. W. Hardenbrook maker of fire1 Engins, His Prices for Hose are as follows,
For Hose or Leaders as they are Called here2 of 32⁄4 hinchs from out to out of the diameter $1—that is 8 shillings this City money, for Hose of One hinch & 2⁄4 diameter which3 I should suppose is the Size you Should have, Price 50 Cents that is ⅌ Foot, & for the Suckers or Suction Pipes Price 3$ ⅌ Foot,—it will take for one City Engine from 3-to 400 Feet but the Common Lenth of Leaders for a House Engine is 100 Feet. If there should be anny thing more that I can do for mr Jefferson, in this City before I Leave it which I think will Probable be soon I should be very Proud to receive your Commands,
W. J. Coffee
I now sir have4 to Solicite a favor which I know You will Immidiateley grant, it is to beg your goodness to send one of your Servants to make Every necessary Inquiries for my Case of Paintings, which your kindness sent to milton on the morning I Left Monticello, it was to be in the Care of mr Ficth I think the Tavern keeper names is, & was to have5 being sent from milton on the next day morning to Richmond, as it has not yet com to hand I am fearfull it may be Lost, but If it is not6 being I rest much satisfied that you will caus your People to do all that Can be don to recover it,
RC (DLC: TJ Papers, 218:38938); evidently misdated, based on unlikely speed of transmission; adjacent to signature: “to Thos Jefferson Esr”; at foot of first page (one word editorially corrected): “Please to turn ove[r]” for postscript on verso; endorsed by TJ as a letter of “Sep. 1.?” received 2 Sept. 1820 and so recorded in SJL.
mr ficth: William D. Fitch.
1. Manuscript: “frire.”
2. Manuscript: “her.”
3. Manuscript: “whih.”
4. Manuscript: “hav.”
5. Manuscript: “hav.”
6. Manuscript: “no.”
Index Entries
- Coffee, William John; and box of paintings search
- Coffee, William John; and fire engines search
- Coffee, William John; health of search
- Coffee, William John; letters from search
- Coffee, William John; travels of search
- Coffee, William John; visits Monticello search
- currency; in N.Y. search
- fire engines; at Monticello search
- fire engines; hose and suction pipes for search
- Fitch, William D.; Milton tavern keeper search
- Hardenbrook, Abel W.; fire-engine maker search
- machines; fire engine search
- Monticello (TJ’s Albemarle Co. estate); fire engine at search
- Monticello (TJ’s Albemarle Co. estate); Visitors to; Coffee, William J. search
- New York (state); currency search
- paintings; owned by W. J. Coffee search
- slaves; errands by search
- weather; heat search