Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Peter J. Zeltner to Thomas Jefferson, [received 30 October 1818]

From Peter J. Zeltner

[received 30 Oct. 1818]

Monsieur,

Ayant eu l’avantage de jouir pendant plus de vingt ann[ées] de l’amitie toute particuliere de l’Illustre défunt, qui à passé plûs de quinze1 dans ma maison je n’ai pu ignorer les relations amicales qu’il a cultivées avec vous: une amitie fondée sur l’éstime réciproque, ne pourrait qu être durable: aussi suis que bien persuade des regrets que Vous causera la nouvelle de son décès Si peu attendu;2 Il en avait quitte en May 1815 pour repondre aux desirs que lui avait temoigne L’Empereur de Russie, de conférer avec lui à Vienne Sur le Sort de la Pologne; de Vienne il est revenu jusqu’a Soleure en Suisse où il a demeuré chez mon frère en attendant que les circonstances3 décident, S’il doit aller dans Sa patrie où revenir ici dans l’asile qu’il S’était choisi; il etait Sur le point de prendre ce dernier part, quand la mort l’enleva à Sa patrie et4 a Ses nombreux amis, parmi les quels je Sais que Vous étes au premier5 rang. C’est cette consideration qui m’a fait un devoir de Vous annoncer directement cette triste nouvelle.

Come6 le géneral Kosciuszko a disposé de la majeure partie de la fortune en faveur de mes enfans, de mes nièces freres et belle Soeur, et que je Suis en outre tres lié avec ses parents que je compte aller Voir en Pologne. je vous prie de vouloir donner des renseignements Sur le Capital qu’il a laissé entre Vos mains et autres objets qui pourraient être a Votre Connaissance;7 Vous obligeres infiniment celui qui a l’honneur d’etre avec estime et haute consideration

Monsieur   Votre tres humble et obeissant serviteur

P J Zeltner

Editors’ Translation

[received 30 Oct. 1818]

Sir,

Having had the privilege of enjoying for more than twenty years the very special friendship of the illustrious deceased, who spent more than fifteen years in my home, I could not ignore the amicable relationship he cultivated with you. A friendship based on mutual respect could not help but endure; I am therefore certain that the news of his unexpected death will distress you. In response to the wishes of the Emperor of Russia, he had left in May 1815 to confer with him in Vienna regarding the fate of Poland. From Vienna he came back to Solothurn, Switzerland, where he stayed at my brother’s house while waiting on circumstances to decide whether he should go to his homeland or return here to the refuge he had selected for himself. He was about to choose the latter when death took him away from both his homeland and his numerous friends, among whom I know you are in the first rank. This consideration has made it my duty to announce this sad news to you directly.

As General Kosciuszko has disposed of most of his fortune in favor of my children, nieces, brothers, and sister-in-law, and since I am, moreover, very close to his relatives, whom I intend to visit in Poland, I ask that you please send me the details of the funds he left in your hands and other effects of which you may have knowledge; you will be greatly obliging one who has the honor to be, with esteem and high consideration

Sir   Your very humble and obedient servant

P J Zeltner

Tr (DNA: RG 21, CCDCCR); undated; edge chipped, with missing text supplied from 2d Tr; docketed in part as “Zeltner’s first letter to Mr Jefferson”; used in Washington County, D.C., chancery case 105, Armstrong v. Lear. Tr (DNA: RG 267, SCACF, box 141, case 1303, Armstrong v. Lear); undated. Recorded in SJL as a letter “(without date)” received 30 Oct. 1818. Translation by Dr. Genevieve Moene. Probably enclosed in TJ to William Wirt, 5 Feb. 1820.

Peter Josef Zeltner (1765–1830), public official, diplomat, and banker, was born in Solothurn, Switzerland. Educated at a local Jesuit school, he served as an officer in the Swiss Guards in Paris, 1783–91. Zeltner then returned to his hometown and sat on its council, 1791–98 and 1814–30. He also represented the Helvetic Republic as a member of both the provisional government and the national grand council in 1798 and as a diplomat stationed in the French capital, 1798–1800. Remaining in France thereafter, Zeltner operated a banking house and from 1801 to 1815 hosted the Polish patriot Tadeusz Kosciuszko at his residences in Paris and Berville, near Fontainebleau. In one of his wills Kosciuszko named Zeltner’s children as his legatees. Zeltner died in Solothurn (Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse [2002–14], 13:825; ANB description begins John A. Garraty and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, 1999, 24 vols. description ends , 12:885; Alex Storozynski, The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution [2009], 252, 275, 279).

mon frère: Franz X. Zeltner.

1Both Trs: “quize.”

2Both Trs: “attendee.”

3Both Trs: “circonstanes.”

41st Tr: “il.” 2d Tr: “it.”

5Both Trs: “premi.”

6Abbreviation for “Comme.”

7Both Trs: “Conniassance.”

Index Entries

  • French language; letters in, from; P. J. Zeltner search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; and T. Kosciuszko’s estate search
  • Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (Thaddeus) Andrzej Bonawentura; death of search
  • Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (Thaddeus) Andrzej Bonawentura; estate of search
  • Zeltner, Franz Xaver; and T. Kosciuszko’s death search
  • Zeltner, Peter Josef; and T. Kosciuszko’s death search
  • Zeltner, Peter Josef; identified search
  • Zeltner, Peter Josef; letter from search