From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Dearborn, 14 August 1801
To Henry Dearborn
Monticello Aug. 14. 1801.
Dear Sir
I inclose you a letter from a mr Quarrier of this state asking a military commission. I know little of him, but that he is young, and ought to expect to be merely a commissioned officer. those who recommend him are persons of the first respectability.
the abuses in the military & naval departments seem to have been so great, that it will doubtless be indispensable that we bring them in some way, directly or indirectly, under the eye of the legislature. I inclose you a note of one instance, which merits enquiry. I strongly suspect it will be found to have originated1 with the engineer. I hardly believe that the Secretary could have given such orders. I write to my informant to furnish me with the particulars so exactly as to be absolutely relied on, & the names of witnesses. in the mean time you may have some opportunities of learning something about it without exciting alarm.
I propose that we shall all rendezvous in Washington on the last day of September if there be no pressing obstacle to it. I shall be there on or before that day myself. Accept assurances of my affectionate esteem & high respect.
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC); at foot of text: “Genl. Dearborne.” Enclosures: (1) Samuel Quarrier to TJ, 4 Aug. 1801, not found, but recorded in SJL as received from Washington on 13 Aug., with notation “Off. W.” (2) Extract from “Nicholas Geffroy” to TJ, 1 Aug. (see TJ to Madison, 14 Aug.). Enclosed in TJ to Robert Smith, 14 Aug.
Those Who Recommend him: in a brief note to TJ on 4 July, George Wythe wrote, “The friends of Alexander Quarrier will be not a little gratified by hearing that his son, of whom they think well, hath been promoted to some office, which he shall be found qualified to execute” (RC in NNPM; endorsed by TJ as received 29 July and so recorded in SJL). Alexander Quarrier, a Richmond coach dealer, was captain of the city’s militia guard. His son Samuel wrote to TJ again on 21 Aug. ( , 2:266; , 1:109–10; Vol. 30:116, 235; Vol. 31:376–7).
1. TJ first wrote “it will originate” before interlining and altering the passage to read as above.