From Thomas Jefferson to William Brown, 4 April 1791
To William Brown
Philadelphia Apr. 4. 1791.
Sir
Your favor of Mar. 21. came to hand on the 24th. and as it proposed a different statement from mine of the 17th. and I was too much engaged to open the papers on that subject, I have not been able to take it up till now. The interval of the war has been usually settled at 8. years. You state it at 3. months less. This trifle is not worth notice, and besides is lessened by an error of a month in the next article to your prejudice, and by the lapse of time between Mar. 21. and your recieving this. I therefore close with you, and inclose you a bank post bill for ninety seven dollars six cents equal to twenty one pounds sixteen and nine pence sterling @ 4/6 to the dollar, on reciept of which be pleased to give me a full discharge against all persons. Of this indeed I never suspected I had any need, believing firmly my tobacco had covered the whole account. To convince you that I have been grounded in this expectation, and in requiring a higher price for my tobacco I subjoin the weights of 13. hogsheads made on the same plantations which came here a few days ago. They average very near 1300. ℔ nett, and Mr. Lieper has given me 5. Dollars a hundred and the rise of the market till September, which is £14–6 sterl. a hogshead and the rise. He agrees that he never bought better tobacco and such has been it’s reputation for 40. years. Add to this that tobacco is now lower here than it was in 1772. However the matter is now settled for better for worse: I am glad of it, and am with great esteem Sir your most obed. humble servt.,
Th: Jefferson
PrC (MHi); at foot of text TJ listed numbers and weights of thirteen hogsheads, ranging in net weight from 1,216 to 1,421 pounds and averaging 1,288 pounds.
Brown’s letter of 21 Mch. 1791, recorded in SJL as received on the 24th, has not been found. Since Charles Carroll had been chosen by Brown to present his dubious claim, TJ sent the above letter to him unsealed (TJ to Carroll, 4 Apr. 1791). TJ clearly did not believe himself to be the debtor but settled for $97.06 to be free of the claimant, this sum “being agreed to be the balance of old dealings between T. Adams, Perkins, Buchanan & Brown and myself” (Account Book, this date). Brown did not acknowledge the above letter but forwarded the receipt to Carroll (Carroll to TJ, 10 Apr. 1791). Jefferson’s calculation of the duration of the war at exactly eight years covered the period from the beginning of hostilities on 19 Apr. 1775 to their cessation on 19 Apr. 1783 (TJ to McCaul, 4 Jan. 1787; TJ to Jones, 5 Jan. 1787).