To Thomas Jefferson from Frederic Herlitz, 2 September 1802
From Frederic Herlitz
Petersburg 2th Septbe 1802.
Dear Sir!
The first lines which run out of my pen, are pardon of taking the liberty to trouble you with a few lines. I will give you at first a description of my birth and situation, I was born at Newyork in a very respectable family, but my parents being reduced, were obliged to send me to Germany to one of their acquaintance, for my education, where I staid nearly 17 years and as soon as I had finished my apprentice ship, which I served to a very respectable merchant in Hamburg, returned to America, by my arrival was surprised of the death of my Father and Grandfather, my mother is still alive, but by the death of my father being disabled to do any thing for me, and by being so long absent, lost my mother Language most intirely, for that reason had to get my living in many different kind of ways, sometimes, by sea and sometimes by land, but I always made it my only study to gain ground in the English language; and I think I am so far advanced, that I may look out for a better situation, than my present one. I am perfect master of the german language, and if I had an opportunity to spend a few months in France, would also make me perfect in that language, as the foundation to it is already laid.
Since my arrival in America, I have seen a great deal of the United States, and the more I see of them, the better I like them. I am bold to say that it is one of the happiest countrys in the world, the Government is mild, and willing to assist the helpless, with horror I look back on the Tyranny, which still reigns in Europe, where every mouth is filled with curses against the Government but on the contrary here in this happy land, I hear nothing but the blessings for the Government & its President, therefore having heard so much of your Goodness, I take the liberty to see if you could not also in a way to be one of your happy Citizens, I am at present twentie-two years of age, and am willing to undertake any kind of1 business, civil or military, or any commission in the navy would thankfully received,
Having no friends, nor acquaintance in America, I thought it would be the best way to address myself at once to you if any thing should fall out, you think me able to undertake I hope that you will think of me, as for my character I can name you several respectable gentlemen who will answer for it, I recommend myelf to your favour, and with the assurance of whatever is in my power is devoted for your service, I am with greatest
Esteem your most obedient humble Servant
Frederic Herlitz
I shall stay here a few weeks longer, and then go on to Boston where I shall remain, if you favour me with an answer in that time be pleased to direct Frederic Herlitz
to the care of Daniel Strobel esqr
to be left with Mr. John Bell Petersburg
if not be pleased to direct to Boston to the care of Mr. Carter
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); addressed: “Thomas Jefferson esqr President of the United States of America City of Washington”; franked; endorsed by TJ as received from Frederic “Hulitz” on 9 Sep. and so recorded in SJL.
RESPECTABLE FAMILY: Herlitz’s father was likely the Frederick Herlitz whose New York mercantile firm Herlitz and Blackwell was dissolved in 1781 (New York Royal Gazette, 5 Dec. 1781). His grandfather was probably Joseph Hallett, a New York merchant who had served during the Revolution on New York’s Committee of Safety (William J. Van Schreeven and others, eds., Revolutionary Virginia: The Road to Independence, 7 vols. [Charlottesville, 1973–83], 6:52; Collections of the New-York Historical Society for the Year 1906 [New York, 1907], 173–4).
1. MS: “kind of kind of.”