To Thomas Jefferson from Madame Salimbeni, 26 November 1804
From Madame Salimbeni
26 9bre 1804 trinidad.
Monsieur le president
a tout autre qu’a vous je craindrais de m’adresser avec la confiance franche de l’estime et de l’attachement, que m’inspirent l’interet que vous m’avez temoigné, et l’intime persuasion ou je sais que de faire un heureux est pour vous doubler votre votre bonheur, la place que vous occupez vous met a même de gouter cette jouissance en procurant une existence douce, et un avenir assuré a une famille qui aime la votre comme la sienne même, je donne a ma chere patty tous les détails relatifs a la priere que j’ose vous faire, elle vous communiquera ma lettre. oui Monsieur je n’en doute nullement une demande faites par vous, au gouvernement de france ne vous sera certainement pas refusé, pendant le tems que j’ai passée dans ce pays, j’y ai entendue parler de vous, je n’ai pas besoin de vous repeter des éloges trop merités pour ne pas etre sentis par vous même. veuillez donc vous rappeller de l’amie de vos filles, et mettre l’empressement affectueux que vous avez bien voulu employer, pour moi, lorsque j’ai eu le chagrin de quitter votre pays, ou tout mes voeux se portent, ou j’aurois tant de plaisir a aller vous remercier, et vous prouver Monsieur le president la reconnoissance aussi vive qu’eternelle de celle qui sera toujours pour vous avec la plus parfaite considération
B de Salimbeni
Editors’ Translation
Trinidad, 26 Nov. 1804
Mister President,
To anyone other than you, I would fear speaking with the sincere confidence that comes from respect and devotion. My feelings are inspired by the interest you have shown us and by my deep conviction that your own happiness is enhanced when you make others happy. The position you occupy makes it possible for you to enjoy this pleasure by securing a harmonious existence and stable future for a family that loves your family as much as its own. I am giving my dear Patty all the details concerning the request I take the liberty of making to you. She will transmit my letter. Indeed, Sir, I have no doubt: the French government will surely not refuse a request coming from you. During the time I have spent in this country, I have heard about you. I need not repeat the well-deserved praise of which you are aware. Please remember your daughters’ friend with the affection you showed me when I lamented leaving your country. All my wishes go toward your country, where I would be so pleased to come and thank you, Mister President, and to convey the sincere and lasting gratitude of someone who will always be entirely devoted to you.
B de Salimbeni
RC (MoSHi: Jefferson Papers); endorsed by TJ as received 21 Mch. 1805 and so recorded in SJL.
Madame Salimbeni was a childhood friend and convent school classmate of Martha Jefferson Randolph in Paris. She was from Guadeloupe, where her family, of the name Bruny de Châteaubrun, had a plantation called Bellevue. Continuing a custom from their school days, she and Martha, who were the same age, called one another by shortened forms of their surnames, “Bruni” or “Brunette” and “Jeff.” She frequently requested seeds and news from TJ’s daughters. She married a French naval officer. The couple lost their property in the revolutionary disruptions in the West Indies and spent some time in the United States, then with TJ’s assistance went to France. In 1801 they were in Paris, where her husband worked in the foreign ministry but was disappointed in his wish to obtain a consular position in the United States (, 69; Sarah N. Randolph, “Mrs. Thomas Mann Randolph,” in Worthy Women of Our First Century, ed. Mrs. O. J. Wister and Miss Agnes Irwin [Philadelphia, 1877], 18-19; Salimbeni to John Adams, 18 Sep. 1793, in MHi: Adams Papers; Trs and notes by Randolph family of correspondence between Madame Salimbeni and Martha Jefferson Randolph, in ViU: Edgehill-Randolph Papers; , 12:478, 479; Vol. 18:500, 580n; Vol. 19:239, 599; Vol. 20:377; Vol. 29:314-15; Vol. 33:575-7).