From Thomas Jefferson to Anderson Bryan, 12 October 1791
To Anderson Bryan
Monticello Oct. 12. 1791
Sir
The constant absence from the […] I am now held, requires that I should [unburden?] myself from all […] and particularly from all [‥] other responsibilities of that mat[ter?] Therefore on Thursday […], [‥] [re]lease me from my securityship […] of which I thought it right to […] that you may [be?] there to [defend?], [‥] necessary [for your interests], […] and [‥]. I am Your
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC); badly faded. Not recorded in SJL.
This is the last letter TJ wrote before leaving Monticello to return to Philadelphia, and it is the last correspondence between TJ and Bryan, the surveyor of Albemarle county for whom TJ had become security, and who had performed TJ’s surveying without fees. Bryan’s work was particularly important in TJ’s dispute with John Harvie (TJ to Bryan, 6 Jan. 1790). Although much of this letter is illegible, it appears that TJ was now taking steps to end his role as security for Bryan.