To Thomas Jefferson from John Vaughan, 16 November 1804
From John Vaughan
Philad: 16 Nov 1804
Dear Sir.
I believe Mr Dunbar has written to you respecting Mr Sauvé, Mr Detriant & Mr Debigny (I think) Delegates from New Orleans, lest I should be mistaken in my conjectures. I have taken the liberty to enclose to you an extract of his letter to me relative to them, as they had not an opportunity of bringing letters with them from him, on account of the distance & their departure having taken place earlier than expected—
I had the pleasure of sending to you, as a mark of respect from my Brother William, the Narrative of the Sufferings of Capt Woodward & four Seamen, drawn up to aid the project of a Society to devise the best means of lessening the causes of despendency & increasing the resources of Seamen in distress &c—Should you when at leisure be able to furnish any hints on this important subject, it would be most thankfully recd. & forwarded to my Brother—no name will be used, of those who assist, without their permission—
Our Library (of the Socy) has lately recieved very important additions, & I have recieved orders to have a Catalogue made which is nearly prepared—I have been desirous that amongst our Books we should possess an early edition of Your Notes—we can here only procure the later ones—I hope you will excuse the liberty I have taken to mention our Difficulty
I remain with respect Your obt Servt.
Jn Vaughan
We are very desirous of Collecting all that relates to Louisiana, which may pass from the Executive to Congress—I believe it is generall printed—Our distance prevents the Collection—Could your Secretary or any person in any of the public offices be desired to throw together what might be published on this Subject
RC (DLC); addressed: “Thomas Jefferson President of the U States”; endorsed by TJ as received 17 Nov. and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: extract of William Dunbar to Vaughan, 15 Oct., offering an appraisal of the delegation carrying the Louisiana memorial to Washington; they are to land in Philadelphia first; Pierre Sauvé speaks English well, is a man of “extreme candor & openness of heart,” is unusually plain in his manners, and of known integrity and probity; Jean Noël Destréhan is a highly esteemed gentleman and first-rate planter who “derives lineage from the Ancient Noblesse of France”; Dunbar does not know the third delegate, who has been a government interpreter and speaks English “very well” (same; in Vaughan’s hand).
Dunbar has written to you: William Dunbar to TJ, 15 Oct.
Narrative: The Narrative of Captain David Woodard and Four Seamen, Who Lost Their Ship While in a Boat at Sea, And Surrendered Themselves Up to the Malays, in the Island of Celebes (London, 1804; No. 3945).