From Thomas Jefferson to George Jefferson, 2 July 1806
Washington July 2. 06
Dear Sir
I received last night, from mr Griffin, my overseer at Poplar forest, the list of my tobacco of the last year, with information that it was all sent down & the manifests forwarded to you. according to this list the whole crop was 28. hhds. weighing 43,535 ℔. out of which the overseers’ parts were 5528. ℔. & mine 38,007. ℔. whether they have retained their parts at home, or sent the whole down, the letter does not inform me. if they have retained it, then you will find 3. or 4. of the hhds. below stated, wanting. if they have forwarded the whole, then 5528. ℔ must be laid by as theirs, or as near that quantity as the weights of the hhds will permit us to come. the nearest will be the 4. hhds marked * weighing 1329. 1346. 1438. 1460.=5573. these it is true are the 4. lightest hhds (except the one stemmed) but even these are 45. ℔ too much, & consequently any heavier hhds will make a greater surplus. from these observations however you will know how to arrange it. with respect to the sale, I know of no circumstance likely to raise the price, until late in autumn, when acquiring the name of old tobo. it would of course sell higher. but this I cannot wait for. indeed my overseer writes me he has made a purchase for me in Bedford paiable Sep. 8. which I cannot make good without the aid of what will remain of this fund after the paiments to mr Lyle & yourself. I believe therefore the whole must now be sold for what it will fetch. perhaps the hogshead of stemmed, tho’ light, may aid it. would my crop sell better hereafter if originally inspected at Richmond? tho’ this would be inconvenient, yet it might be overbalanced by a higher price. I am sorry you cannot pass some time with us this autumn, as we should be all, & always glad to see you. Accept affectionate salutations & assurances of constant esteem.
Th: Jefferson
1643. | The 28. hhds. average | 1555. | ||||
1579 | The heaviest is 1760. | |||||
1565 | ||||||
1607 | 4. | hhds. are | upwards of | 17 | ||
1748 | 11. | upwards of | 16 | |||
1650 | 6. | 15 | ||||
1628. | 4. | 14 | ||||
1567 | 2. | 13 | ||||
1652. | 1 | 7 | ||||
1560. | 28. | |||||
* 1438 | ||||||
1700 | ||||||
1752 | ||||||
* 1460 | ||||||
1624 | ||||||
1480 | ||||||
1603 | ||||||
1510 | ||||||
1660 | ||||||
1600 | ||||||
1685 | ||||||
1517 | ||||||
1760 | ||||||
* 1346 | ||||||
1474 | ||||||
*1329 | ||||||
748 | stemmed | |||||
43,535 | ||||||
5528 | ||||||
38,007 |
MHi: Coolidge Collection.