To Thomas Jefferson from Philippe Reibelt, 28 December 1804
From Philippe Reibelt
Baltimore—St Patrik’s Row No. 61. 28 Dec. 1804.
Monsieur le President!
Vous n’avez, malgrè ma promesse, pas recu—Plans des Jardins Anglais p. Mansa, et Idem p. Parkyns; la Cause en est, que de mon petit garcon et de mon domestique, lesquels ont portè entre autres les deux paquets sèparès—le premier celui des Annales &c de Filhol in 8°, et l’autre celui des Plans &c de Mansa &c in fol. a la poste,—le dernier est glissè, et laisse tombe son paquet dans une fosse pleine d’eau, dont il a etè entierement abimè—J’en attends d’autres Exemplaires, et-lorsque ils seront dans mon pouvoir, je ne tarderai certainment pas un instant, de Vous les faire parvenir—etant penetrè par principes d’un respect bien particulier pour Vous,
de Votre Excellence Tr. hble et tr. Obst str
Reibelt.
Editors’ Translation
Baltimore, 61 St. Patrick’s Row, 28 Dec. 1804
Mister President!
Despite my promise, you have not received the Plans des jardins anglais by Mansa and the equivalent by Parkyns. The reason is that my son and my servant took the two packages to be mailed, one containing the Annales by Filhol in octavo and the other containing the Plans by Mansa et al. in folio. My servant slipped and dropped his parcel in a ditch full of water and it was ruined. I await other copies and as soon as I have them, I shall not lose a moment in sending them to you.
With profound respect for your excellency, I am your very humble and obedient servant.
Reibelt.
RC (DLC); in dateline: “Librairie de Levrault, Schoell et Comp. de Paris”; endorsed by TJ as received 29 Dec. and so recorded in SJL.