1Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 20 January 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I have to acknolege, my dear friend, the reciept of many of your letters , within the last twelvemonth , and altho’ I have not answered them specifically to yourself, yet I have not been inattentive or inactive as to their contents. on leaving the government, two years ago, I knew I could not serve you so effectually as by committing the whole care of your Orleans affairs to the President ....