From Thomas Jefferson to William Lee, 21 February 1807
Washington Feb. 21. 07.
Sir
By the vessel on board of which this letter will be, I send a box of seeds, nuts & acorns for Madame de Tessé of Aunai en Poitou, to whom also the inclosed letter is addressed. on your reciept of them, I must ask the favor of you to forward the letter, & to write her a line informing her that you have recieved the box and asking her directions to what place and through what channel it should be sent to her; in order that the expence of transportation may not be beyond it’s worth. as she resides a part of the year, I believe, at Paris, it is possible she may be there, tho’ when you will recieve this, it is most likely she will be at Aunai, & to this place I think it most probable she will wish the box to be sent. I hope the difficulty of conveying this to a friend whom I value much will apologise for the liberty I take in proposing this trouble to you, and of asking further a line of information when you shall have recieved and disposed of it. Accept my respectful salutations.
Th: Jefferson
Mr. Lee at Bordeaux
Mr. Lovell at la Rochelle
Mr. Patterson at Nantes
or any other Commercl Agent of the US. of America, where this may be landed.
MHi: Coolidge Collection.