Thomas Jefferson Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Dufief, Nicolas Gouin" AND Period="Madison Presidency" AND Correspondent="Jefferson, Thomas"
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-08-02-0370

Nicolas G. Dufief to Thomas Jefferson, 4 May 1815

From Nicolas G. Dufief

A Philadelphie ce 4 mai 1815

Monsieur,

C’est par la faute de Mr Duane que la quinze dollars n’ont point été passés à votre crédit sur ses livres. Le jour même que je reçus la lettre où vous m’annonciez que je devais recevoir la traite de 150dlls de Mr P. Gibson, je vis ce Monsieur & voulus lui payer Les 15 dollars. Il refusa de recevoir cet argent comme il me devait beaucoup plus. Je l’en créditai & il oublia de vous en tenir compte Sur Ses livres: mais cet oubli est reparé par le reçu ci-Inclus

De tous les livres que vous me demandez, je ne puis vous procurer que la sagesse de charon, bonne edition en 2 vol 8vo prix cinq dollars cet ouvrage vous Sera envoyé de la manière que vous demandez Je me propose de partir dans quelque temps pour l’Europe, afin d’y faire un choix de livres mais je ne partirai certainement point, Sans avoir eu l’honneur de recevoir vos ordres à ce Sujet

Agreez les assurances du profond respect avec lequel

Je Suis inviolablement

votre très-dévoué Serviteur

N. G. Dufief

Editors’ Translation

Philadelphia 4 May 1815

Sir,

Mr. Duane is to blame for failing to credit the fifteen dollars to your account on his books. The very same day I got the letter in which you announced to me that I would receive the draft for 150 dollars from Mr. P. Gibson, I saw this gentleman and tried to pay him the 15 dollars. He refused to accept the money, because he owed me a lot more than that. I credited his account with that sum, but he forgot to do likewise on his own books. The enclosed receipt repairs this oversight.

Of all the books you request, I can only get you Charron’s De La Sagesse, a good edition in 2 octavo volumes, price five dollars. This work will be sent to you in the manner you desire. I plan to set out for Europe shortly in order to obtain a selection of books, but I will certainly not leave without receiving your orders on this subject

Accept the assurances of the profound respect with which

I am inviolably

your very devoted servant

N. G. Dufief

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 11 May 1815 and so recorded in SJL. RC (DLC); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Joseph Milligan, 26 June 1815, on verso; addressed: “Thos Jefferson Esq. Monticello Va”; franked; postmarked Philadelphia, 4 May. Translation by Dr. Genevieve Moene. Enclosure: receipt from William Duane to Dufief, Philadelphia, 2 May 1815, for $15, “being so much paid by him on account of Thomas Jefferson late Prest of the United States in account with me” (MS in DLC; written on a small scrap by Duane and signed by him; endorsed by TJ: “Newspapers Duane Wm reciept to May 1. 1815”).

In a lettre dated 16 Aug. 1814, TJ informed Dufief that he would receive a draft for $150.

Index Entries

  • Aurora (Philadelphia newspaper); TJ’s subscription to search
  • books; sent by N. G. Dufief search
  • Charron, Pierre; De La Sagesse search
  • De La Sagesse (P. Charron) search
  • Duane, William; TJ’s account with search
  • Dufief, Nicolas Gouin; account with TJ search
  • Dufief, Nicolas Gouin; letters from search
  • Dufief, Nicolas Gouin; makes payments for TJ search
  • Dufief, Nicolas Gouin; plans trip to Europe search
  • Dufief, Nicolas Gouin; TJ orders books from search
  • Dufief, Nicolas Gouin; TJ pays search
  • French language; letters in, from; N. G. Dufief search
  • Gibson, Patrick; payments made for TJ search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; orders books search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; account with N. G. Dufief search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; account with W. Duane search
  • newspapers; Philadelphia Aurora search
  • Philadelphia; Aurora search
  • religion; works on search