Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-32-02-0312

From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 10 January 1801

To Thomas Mann Randolph

Washington Jan. 10. 1801.

Dear Sir

I promised to procure for the Chevalier de Freire, minister of Portugal an account of our manner of cultivating tobacco so detailed as that a person might, by it’s instruction, pursue the culture with exactness. I always intended to have got two or three judicious planters to state to me their methods, which I should have noted down, and out of the whole have made out one. I now see that it will not be in my power to do this; and yet if I fail it will be ascribed to jealousy or illiberality. I must therefore pray you to pay this debt for me. it will be the more easy for you as you possess the subject within yourself which I did not. the principal division of the kinds into Sweet scented & Oronoko, with only a partial specification of the principal varieties & their qualities will be sufficient. I have to write to the Chevalr. on another subject, and will delay it till you can with convenience enable me to fulfill my promise to him. I wrote to you two days ago. but the present subject now occurring, I commit it to a special letter. tender love to the family. health & affection to yourself.

Th: Jefferson

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “T M Randolph”; endorsed by Randolph as received 22 Jan. PrC (MHi); endorsed by TJ in ink on verso.

Cipriano Ribeiro Freire made his request in a letter to TJ of 22 Feb. 1799. I have to write: no further correspondence between Freire and TJ is recorded in SJL. I wrote to you: for TJ’s last letter to Randolph, see 9 Jan.

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