From Thomas Jefferson to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1 March 1793
To the Speaker of the House of Representatives
Philadelphia Mar. 1. 1793.
Sir
Having received information, on the first Wednesday of February, from the Vice-President of the US. that the list of Votes of the state of Kentuckey for President and Vice-President was not then received at the seat of government, I immediately, according to the injunctions of the law, dispatched to the district judge of that state a special messenger, to desire the list of votes lodged in his custody. The messenger returned yesterday. The expence incurred has been 150. Doll. as may be seen by the inclosed vouchers. No particular fund having been provided for this demand, I take the liberty of laying it before the house of representatives and have the honor to be with the most perfect respect, Sir, Your most obedt. & most humble servt
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC); at foot of text: “The Speaker of the House of Representatives.” FC (Lb in DNA: RG 59, DL). Tr (Lb in DNA: RG 233, House Records, TR). Enclosures: (1) Timothy Pickering to Samuel Bradshaw, Philadelphia, 4 Jan. 1793, giving instructions for his journey to Kentucky with public dispatches, of which that from TJ to federal district judge Harry Innes is to be delivered personally and the rest put in the post at Danville, directing him to return without delay with Innes’s reply containing the return of the votes of the Kentucky electors for president and vice-president, and agreeing to pay him $50 now and an additional $100 upon his return with Innes’s answer within fifty days. (2) Receipt of Bradshaw to Pickering, Philadelphia, 4 Jan. 1792, for the initial payment of $50 (Trs in Lb in DNA: RG 233, House Records, TR). (3) Pickering to TJ, 28 Feb. 1793.
TJ meant to write the first Wednesday of January (see TJ to John Adams, 1 Mch. 1793). The Speaker, Jonathan Trumbull, laid this letter before the House on this day (, i, 726).