11Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 10 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
On my coming from England in 1793 I brought with me a very good collection of minerals: the principal part of which were in some manner or other lost at the Custom house so that I never recovered them. The few remaining ores I possessed, I gave to M r Tho s Smith when he and M r Maclure paid me a visit here many years ago. M r Smith , a young man of much promise whom I dare say you knew...