Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Frederick A. Mayo to Thomas Jefferson, 2 April 1821

From Frederick A. Mayo

Springhill near Richmond the 2 April 1821

Honorable Sir

I hereby forward my Acounts, and whatever your honour should find wrong or not reasonable pleas to make the deduction, and I shall be perfectly satisfied—The last Vol of the Weekly Register is also forward by mail, and scharged within—I wish verry much indeed that the Work forwarded may corrospond with the directions given for executing the same, as we have not1 spared to be particular from the commencement, but notwithstanting there may be some not to your honours wish, Should that be the case I shall be glad to do such over without any sharge—Haveing as your honour had been informd, fealt meself bound in consequence of various misfortune in buisness to give up my Book & Stationer Store, and in fact all my property (accepting my Bindry Establishment, and a few acers ground) for the benefit of my Creditors in general, which circumstance naturaly presst me down in life verry much indeed; the kind Notice your honour had taken of my Situation has still strengtent me in my resolution not any more to regret the considerable loosses, which the times, and supposed frinds like a Stream has swept away: but to look forward, and to use better management combined with insdustry, by which I hope still I shall make a good liveing for me and my family—The quarto Vol, in one of your largest boxes forward Seybert’s2 Statistical Annals, I took the liberty to send, beeing I hope a suitable Work, for your honours libry, it is bound in American calf, and beeing done in a Virginia Bindry You will pleas not to reject it. I attent to that department now closly meself, without the former interuptions, to which profession I was brougth up in Germany, and workt at the3 same in different parts of Europe, and also in England, untill my impressment into the Navy, in which Service I was compelled to act the part of a Sailer for nearly four years, I then came by chance, about twelve years ago, fortunatly to the U. States, but in the most miserable Situation I suppose a person could come without means of any kind, and then not in health, besides haveing a verry serious wound to content with, which I received not fare from Loango, on the Coast of Africa haveing been also up Congo River in prusuit of Spanish and French Vessells—Some time after my arrivel I workt for a considerable time in different City of America, I therefore have no reason to be discontented, as it respets may haveing been unfortuned like many others have been in buisness, particular when I reflect on the Situation which I was in, when I first placed my feet on American Soil; I then feel not only thankfull for the present but also for the past, particular more so, when I over look the various miserable & dangeres Scenes I have been placed in through Life, either by my own folly or by the direction of providence—I hope your Honour will parten me for haveing mentioned some circumstances concerning meself, the high Respect I feel toawrds yourself, produced a wish, that your honour should know, where from, and in what manner I came to this happy Land.—I now have in a measure made a new start in buisness, and it is my ambition to execute work, at least not in a common Style—I have therefore taken the liberty of presenting your honour with a Speciment of my new commencement as a Mackanic, but beeing not clear of various inperfections, I hope you will parten what ever your Judgement will find not suitable, as it respects the taste & Workmanship of the Vol forwarded, be pleased to accept this token of Respect, which I indeavourd to show through the Medium of my profession; and should this Speciment meet your honours approbation, is all I ask, and wish for, as such greatly would be in favour of my receiveing more encourgement in the line of my profession—My Bindry I have since nearly two years ago, about one mile below Richmond, which I buildet for that particular porpus of considerable extent, have a few acers ground around it, and live here with my family and shop4 hands free of [. . .] and content, notwithstanting all the Shipwreck & loosses of my former buisness, still I am perfectly satisfied, as I feel like returned to a harbour after a Severe Sturm, attenting to my home concern and profession, and now shall depend on the most [. . .] ancker of following and working at my Mackinical branch—Have no complain as I receive incouragement in the Bindry, so that I can make out, by useing industry and œconomy as exertions shall not be wanting in Order to do work to satisfaction, and with more expedition as formerly—I am fearfull that I may have made meself disagreeable by my long, and no doubt improperly written letter, Should that been the case, I hope sinerly your honour will forgive me, as my intentions are not bad, beside haveing never received any instruction in the english Language—May the Blessings of your labour of Old continue through the U. States, to be that firm foundation, and may your honour long injoy the same in peace health and comfort, This wishes—

Your most humble Servant

Frederick A Mayo

RC (MHi); two words illegible; at foot of text: “The Hono. Tho. Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 4 Apr. 1821 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure not found.

1Word interlined.

2Manuscript: “Slyberd’s.”

3Manuscript: “the the.”

4Word interlined.

Index Entries

  • Baltimore, Md.; newspapers search
  • books; binding of search
  • Great Britain; navy of search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; binding of books search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; works sent to search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; account with F. A. Mayo search
  • Mayo, Frederick August; career of search
  • Mayo, Frederick August; financial difficulties of search
  • Mayo, Frederick August; letters from search
  • Mayo, Frederick August; TJ’s account with search
  • newspapers; BaltimoreNiles’ Weekly Register search
  • Niles’ Weekly Register (Baltimore newspaper) search
  • Richmond, Va.; bookbinders in search
  • Richmond, Va.; booksellers in search
  • Seybert, Adam; Statistical Annals search
  • Statistical Annals (A. Seybert) search