From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 9 July 1802
To Albert Gallatin
Washington July 9. 1802.
Dear Sir
On recieving yesterday your favor, left here, I consulted with the Secretaries of State & War. we are all of opinion decidedly that mr Latimer’s letter ought not to be left unanswered: but that he should be told that it not being intended that he should continue in office an application had been made on his behalf for permission to resign, that to this the Executive had no objection; that his letter, predicated on the ground of the proposition of his resignation having originated with the Executive, is not founded in fact, nor can be admitted to have any effect in their proceedings. if he writes an absolute resignation; well: if not the removal will take it’s effect. we have concluded on a review of the proceedings & opinions of the day before your departure to modify them thus.
Newbury port Dalton vice Ting
Salem. Lee vice Hiller.
Marblehead. Henry Warren vice Gerry.
Commissions accordingly, as well as in the case of Latimer &c will be signed within a day or two.—Capt Lewis will write to you to-day on the subject of bills on London & Paris in favor of Erving & Short for 1000. D. each for the books. nothing new has happened since your departure. accept my best wishes & affectionate respect.
Th: Jefferson
RC (NHi: Gallatin Papers); addressed: “Albert Gallatin Secretary of the treasury now at New York”; franked and postmarked; endorsed: “that Latimer must be put out of office.” PrC (DLC). Recorded in SJL with notation “removals &c.”
YOUR FAVOR: see Gallatin to TJ, 7 July (second letter). Gallatin also wrote his wife, Hannah, whom he was joining in New York City, a letter from Washington on 7 July. He evidently departed for New York on 8 July (Henry Adams, The Life of Albert Gallatin [Philadelphia, 1879; repr. New York, 1943], 304).
For the recommendation of HENRY WARREN for the collectorship at Plymouth, see Josiah Smith to TJ, 7 June 1802. TJ also listed “Dalton vice Tyng Newbury port”; “Lee vice Hiller Salem”; and “Henry Warren vice Gerry Marblehead” on a scrap of paper (MS in DLC: TJ Papers, 124:21451; undated; entirely in TJ’s hand).
CAPT LEWIS WILL WRITE TO YOU: a letter in Meriwether Lewis’s hand has not been found, but a draft in TJ’s hand with formal instructions for bills on London and Paris is printed immediately below.