Thomas Jefferson Papers
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John Barnes to Thomas Jefferson, 31 May 1816

From John Barnes

George Town Coa 31st May 1816.

Dear Sir—

I have now the Honr of Covering you Statemt of Sales Genl Kosciuskos Treasury Notes and purchase therewth of Bk Stock—as Noticed in my letter 22d March—Bale in favr of B. Stock $5035100 to the Debit of the Genls —I hope & trust these will meet—your Approval:—still Anxious—but without a too severe Remedy I cannot—yet feel for the good Genls want of a Remittance but at a loss of 20 per Cent—is too much to sustain—when with a little more patience, will, I trust, Afford him relief—as from Appearances, the Banks generally, are emmerging from the restraints hitherto preventing a circulation of Specia the very first favorable Moment, that Offers: I shall eagerly embrace in a purchase of £400 Sterg a 3 a 10 days after sight if to be had.—

I had waited Miss Randolphs expected Return from Philada to Offer her my Bank services—when 2 days since Mrs Madison being1 in G: T. informed me Miss Randolphs Arrival in Washington—(in Mrs Madisons Absence at Annapolis—) had proceeded on to Monticello. of course, I had not the pleasure of paying my respects, nor Offer of Cash: but in replacing $20. Advanced Miss Randolph by Mrs Madison—

The late Excursion to Annapolis—was truly Splendid—and highly gratifying to all parties—more especially so it must have been to the good President whom I presume have never before seen, even at a distance—a 74. That not only to Board so Compleat a first Rate But as Commander-in Chief of the US. Navy &a &a surrounded by his Principal Officers, both Civil & Military Foreign Ministers & Fellow Citizens &a How glowing—and Joyous must have been the feelings of this Assemblage And to the President—in particular—the most Exulting & Gratifying. May He live, many Years, to injoy that supreme satisfaction in having had so great a share in its present Establishment—Aided—in Example by his Predecessor—and may it—(should it become Necessary) increase and Vie with the most Splended European—at least so as to Secure a proper Respect from them—or Either of them—

with the greatest Esteem I am Dear Sir—Your most obedt servt

John Barnes,

RC (ViU: TJP-ER); endorsed by TJ as received 7 June 1816 and so recorded in SJL. RC (MHi); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Enoch Reynolds, 13 July 1816, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esquire Monticello—Virginia”; franked; postmarked (faint) Georgetown, [ ] June.

Barnes’s letter of 22d march was actually dated a day earlier. During their late excursion to annapolis, on 21 May 1816 James Madison and Dolley Madison inspected and dined aboard the USS Washington. This 74-gun warship was constructed at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, under the authority of “An Act to increase the Navy of the United States,” 2 Jan. 1813. The Madisons were joined by Secretary of the Navy Benjamin W. Crowninshield, former attorney general William Pinkney, General Winfield Scott, Commodore John Rodgers, Captain David Porter, Commodore Isaac Chauncey, and other dignitaries (Baltimore Patriot & Evening Advertiser, 27 May 1816; Howard I. Chapelle, The History of The American Sailing Navy: The Ships and their Development [1949; repr. ca. 1960], 283–6, 310, 557; U.S. Statutes at Large description begins Richard Peters, ed., The Public Statutes at Large of the United States … 1789 to March 3, 1845, 1845–67, 8 vols. description ends , 2:789).

1Manuscript: “beeing.”

Index Entries

  • Bank of Columbia search
  • Barnes, John; and T. Kosciuszko’s American investments search
  • Barnes, John; letters from search
  • Barnes, John; manages funds for TJ’s granddaughter search
  • Chauncey, Isaac; as U.S. Navy commodore search
  • Coolidge, Ellen Wayles Randolph (TJ’s granddaughter); TJ gives money to search
  • Coolidge, Ellen Wayles Randolph (TJ’s granddaughter); travels of search
  • Crowninshield, Benjamin Williams; as secretary of the navy search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; and T. Kosciuszko’s American investments search
  • Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (Thaddeus) Andrzej Bonawentura; Bank of Columbia stock of search
  • Madison, Dolley Payne Todd (James Madison’s wife); attends inspection ofUSS Washington search
  • Madison, Dolley Payne Todd (James Madison’s wife); TJ’s granddaughter visits search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); inspectsUSS Washington search
  • Navy Department, U.S.; war craft of search
  • Pinkney, William; attends inspection of USSWashington search
  • Porter, David; naval service of search
  • Rodgers, John; as American naval commander search
  • Scott, Winfield; as American military commander search
  • Treasury Department, U.S.; treasury notes search
  • Washington, USS search