Thomas Jefferson Papers
Documents filtered by: Recipient="Barnes, John" AND Period="Adams Presidency"
sorted by: date (ascending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-29-02-0379

From Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, [18] July 1797

To John Barnes

Monticello July [18.] 1797

Dear Sir

After parting with you at Philadelphia, I recollected that the box which Mr. Johnston was forwarding to you for me, went from this place and contained a large tooth and another bone of the Mammoth. I must ask the favor of you to open it and to take the tooth, have it packed in a box of exact size, to be directed to ‘the Prince of Parma,’ and delivered to the Chevalier Yrujo, Minister of Spain, to be forwarded. I have before spoken to the Minister concerning it, and have written to the Prince on the subject; so nothing more will be necessary, as to that. Be so good as to give the other bone houseroom till I come to Philadelphia.1

It will be necessary to discount the notes for the second moiety of paiments due for my tobacco which came to the discountable period on the 15th. inst. being then within 60. days of paiment. On this ground I have this day drawn on you in favor of Charles Johnston & Co. for five hundred dollars at 10. days sight. As an explanation of this draught, I inclose a state of our account according to my view of it which I believe is nearly correct. According to this, after paying the present draught of 500 Dol. there will remain a balance in my favor of about 131.41 without taking into account Mr. Short’s dividend for the last two quarters. No doubt you have some small debets against me not noted here nor known to me. I am with great esteem Dear Sir Your most obedt. servt

Th: Jefferson

PrC (ViU: Edgehill-Randolph Papers); faded; at foot of text: “Mr. Barnes”; endorsed in ink by TJ on verso. Enclosure not found.

Have written to the Prince: TJ to Louis of Parma, 23 May 1797.

For Barnes’s sale of TJ’s tobacco, see TJ to Thomas Mann Randolph, 9 June 1797.

In Philadelphia on 1 June 1797, TJ wrote a promissory note stating that “Sixty days after date I promise to pay to the order of John Barnes, at the bank of the U. States (without defalcation) four hundred dollars, for value recieved” (MS in MHi; entirely in TJ’s hand and signed by him, his signature subsequently canceled by short diagonal strokes; endorsed as paid on 31 July). A letter from Barnes to TJ of 6 Apr. 1797, received 21 Apr., and one from TJ to Barnes dated 9 Apr. are recorded in SJL but have not been found.

1Sentence interlined.

Index Entries