RC (H. R. Strauss); without indication of addressee, but may be confidently ascribed to Robert Lawson for the following reasons: (1) Lawson was at Prince Edward awaiting orders from TJ; (2) he acknowledged TJ’s “favor of the 8th instant” in one that he wrote TJ on 11 May, q.v.; (3) the substance of the present letter is in accord with information set forth in TJ’s letters to Lawson of 4 and 11 May and in Lawson’s to TJ of 1 and 11 May; and (4), though this would not necessarily be significant unless accompanied by the foregoing, TJ’s letters to Lawson (see those of 8 and 11 May) were usually in his own hand and end with the same distinctive complimentary close, “I am with great respect Sir,” &c.

I cannot yet get a council: TJ had already, in his letter of 4 May, informed Lawson that his “matter” would be taken up as soon as there was a Council. The last full meeting had been held on 25 April. On 7, 8, and 9 May Dudley Digges, David Jameson, and George Webb met with TJ and unofficially transacted business. On 10 May they were joined by Jacquelin Ambler, making a full board. At this time the proceedings “which have been done (through necessity) without the formality of a regular board” were read and approved (Va. Council Jour. description begins Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia, ed. H. R. McIlwaine description ends , ii, 344). The full Council did not meet again before TJ’s retirement from the governorship. This letter may have been sent out before the members of Council who were present on 8 May consulted with Lafayette (see TJ’s letters to the county lieutenants, following).