Thomas Jefferson to Josephus B. Stuart, 8 February 1817
To Josephus B. Stuart
Monticello Feb. 8. 17.
Dear Sir
Your favor of Jan. 26. reached me two days ago, and I am glad to see that our merchants, as well as our rulers, are at length looking to principles of navigation which, as Secretary of state, I submitted to them in a Report of Dec. 1793.—the crew of the Armstrong have also my sincere prayers for indemnification either thro’ our government or from it: for a more gallant conduct than theirs never honored any nation.—I am entirely of opinion with you as to the future prospects of Richmond. the advantages of water, coal and iron united there, with the easy communication which may be opened with the Western country, are second to those of none of our Atlantic1 states, and time and circumstances may at some future day, give them all their developement. but these things are for your day, not for mine; and I am made happy when I see a young citizen coming into life with the energy of youth and the observation and information of age. the prospect to our dear country, and, I trust, to all the human race, is transcendantly animating; but an old man has nothing but prayers to offer in it’s behalf. these are sincere for the general good, as also for your particular health & prosperity.
Th: Jefferson
RC (NjP: Andre deCoppet Collection); at foot of text: “J. B Stuart esq”; endorsed by Stuart as received 13 Feb. 1817 and with his further notation: “No 2.” PoC (DLC); on verso of a reused address cover from Stuart to TJ; torn at seal, with some words rewritten by TJ; endorsed by TJ.
For TJ’s report of dec. 1793 on commerce, see , 27:532–81.
1. Manuscript: “Antlantic.”
Index Entries
- coal; in Va. search
- Commerce, Report on (Thomas Jefferson) search
- Congress, U.S.; The Memorial Of Frederick Jenkins, and Rensselaer Havens, in behalf of the owners, officers, and crew of the late private armed brig General Armstrong search
- General Armstrong (brig) search
- Havens, Rensselaer; The Memorial Of Frederick Jenkins, and Rensselaer Havens, in behalf of the owners, officers, and crew of the late private armed brig General Armstrong search
- iron; in Va. search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; receives works search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; commerce search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Opinions on; Richmond search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Public Service; as secretary of state search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Writings; Report on Commerce search
- Jenkins, Frederick; The Memorial Of Frederick Jenkins, and Rensselaer Havens, in behalf of the owners, officers, and crew of the late private armed brig General Armstrong search
- Richmond, Va.; praised search
- Stuart, Josephus Bradner; letters to search
- Stuart, Josephus Bradner; on U.S. trade policy search
- The Memorial Of Frederick Jenkins, and Rensselaer Havens, in behalf of the owners, officers, and crew of the late private armed brig General Armstrong search
- United States; trade of search