Thomas Jefferson Papers
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From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 21 August 1801

To Albert Gallatin

Monticello Aug. 21. 1801.

Dear Sir

Your favors of the 15th. & 17th. are recieved. you will find an approbation signed at the foot of mr Millar’s letter. all the papers inclosed to me, are re-inclosed except the list of warrants.—I do not with very great certainty recollect the particulars as to Genl. Herd. but I think we at first intended him the place afterwards given to Lynn: that it was after that suggested he would accept the Marshal’s office, & some of us at least thought it fortunate. but I do not remember that it was decided finally. as far as I see of the matter I should approve of his appointment; but I rather think it was concluded there should be no more removals till we should meet again. this is still my opinion; for however this gradual proceeding may in some respects be disagreeable, yet I have no doubt it offers greater advantage than evil. on this ground, as well as that specially noted in a former letter, nothing should be immediately done in S. Carolina. the Dunwooddy Secretary stands on a mass of family interest not to be thought little of. we should make a great many enemies for one friend. I sincerely wish judge Burke could be fully impressed with the fatal consequences of a division on the election of a Senator for S.C.—I like much the idea of giving Clay the consulship of Lisbon. I deem it the most important consulship in our gift. I will write to mr Madison on the subject & ask his opinion.—the letter of Fish is certainly not to be answered. the answer to N. Haven was called for by great motives: but it must not lead us into the lists with every individual. we have nothing to fear from Fish’s publication. I presume somebody will answer him for us, by reminding him of his carrying his official influence into elections &c. accept assurances of my affectionate esteem & high consideration.

Th: Jefferson

RC (NHi: Gallatin Papers); at foot of text: “The Secretary of the Treasury.”; endorsed by Gallatin. PrC (DLC).

For TJ’s approbation of the selection of Abishai Woodward to construct a lighthouse on Falkner Island, see the enclosure described at Gallatin to TJ, 15 Aug. 1801. John Heard (Herd) was designated to be the collector at Perth Amboy, but Daniel Marsh, not James Linn, Afterwards received the appointment (see Notes on New Jersey Patronage, printed at 5 Mch. 1801). Former Letter: see TJ to Gallatin, 7 Aug.

Dunwooddy Secretary: identified by Gallatin as William Jackson (see Enclosure No. 3, listed at Gallatin to TJ, 17 Aug.). Philadelphia Federalists regularly held their meetings at Dunwoody’s tavern (Philadelphia Gazette, 28 July 1800; Gazette of the United States, 29 July, 7 Aug., 24 Sep., 7 Oct., 5 Nov. 1800, 7 Oct. 1801; Philadelphia Aurora, 10, 17 Nov. 1800). Mass of Family Interest: Jackson was married to Elizabeth Willing, daughter of Philadelphia merchant and banker Thomas Willing. Her sisters, Anne, Mary, Dorothy, and Abigail, married William Bingham, Henry Clymer, Thomas Willing Francis, and Richard Peters, respectively (ANB description begins John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, New York and Oxford, 1999, 24 vols. description ends ; Alberts, Golden Voyage description begins Robert C. Alberts, The Golden Voyage: The Life and Times of William Bingham, 1752–1804, Boston, 1969 description ends , 360). For the division in Republican ranks on the election of a senator in South Carolina, see Enclosure No. 2, listed at Gallatin to TJ, 17 Aug.

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