Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-12-02-0216

Thomas Appleton to Thomas Jefferson, 20 December 1817

From Thomas Appleton

Leghorn 20th December 1817.

Sir

Your letter in date of 18th of July 1816, with its inclosure, reach’d my hands only1 on the 23d of June last; and that of the 1st of August of the present year, was deliver’d me on the first of November—In the former letter you say, you know not where the undertaker of the propos’d life of mr Mazzei “is to get his materials”—it is undoubtedly a certain Doctor Reynolds, who Came here two years since, in the public Ship John Adams, whom I made acquainted with our deceas’d friend; and having resided some time at Pisa for the recovery of his health, Mr Mazzei often read to him parts of his manuscripts, and finally lent the whole to him during several months; on his return to Leghorn2 he told me he had copied the essential parts, and purpos’d to publish a translation of them in the u:S—I am inclin’d, however, to think his slight knowledge of the language, may subject him to errors.—I duly inform’d the Canonico Fancelli, of that part of your letter, in relation to the sum in your hands belonging to him; and he has now drawn in my favor for the amount of Six hundred & thirty-five Spanish dollars & forty eight Cents, agreeably thereto, and which I have endors’d & remitted to my nephew Thomas Perkins junr of Boston.—this sum I advanc’d to the Canonico, as he was urgent to pay some small legacies, and to supply his own immediate wants.—I found as you desir’d I should do, a “sober good-humour’d man, understanding the Vineyard and kitchen garden”—the salary you offer was satisfactory to him, but as he found it would require a years wages to pay his passage, he declin’d the proposition—but then you add, “he must come to the port of Norfolk or Richmond, and no where else”—now from Norfolk there have been only3 two vessels in seven years, and from Richmond, I am yet to see the first—it has therefore been impossible to comply with your request.—I greatly regret, that I am compell’d to give you nearly the same reply in relation to the stone-cutter you require, as I have of the Vigneron, for your expressions are, “but he must come to norfolk or Richmond, and to no other port.”—Had you been less explicit, I should have sent an excellent workman to the immediate care of the collector of Baltimore, requesting he would not suffer him to remain4 a single day in that city; but I have not thought myself at liberty to deviate in the smallest degree from your positive instructions.—The letter you inclos’d me for the Count Barzina at Venice, was put by me into our post-office for that city—

In reply to that part of your letter, relating to the funds of madame Pini, you will find her answer here inclos’d, by which you will perceive, that I have fully explain’d to her your wishes, as it leaves you intirely at liberty, at what periods to make the remittances of the principal, requiring only the annual payment of the interest.—I thought it would be more satisfactory to you, to have a letter from her, expressing her approbation, than to be the interpreter of her verbal expressions.—I receiv’d only on the first of this month from Mr Vaughan, the bill of exchange for two thousand one hundred & twenty francs on Paris; and which after negociating, I have paid Madame Pini three hundred eighty Dollars & fifty two cents, as you will find by her receipt here inclos’d—the balance of 19. Doll & 48. cts5 shall be invested, as you desire, in montepulciano-wine, in the month of february, and be forwarded to some near port in the U: States.—and I am told, that the growth of this year will prove of an excellent quality.—on negotiating here the bill on paris, there arose a small loss of about one & three quarters ⅌Ct as exchange was unusually low, which Madame Pini at once insisted should be deducted from the sum of 380. Doll–52, as she judiciously observ’d, that you are only obligated to pay the interest in the u.S—and therefore not liable for any loss on remittances.—I translated to Mr & Madme Pini the whole of your letter to Mr Carmigniani, which you sent me unseal’d, and which excited in both, the most grateful sensibility.—it was afterwards seal’d by me & forwarded to Mr Carmigniani, for his duties have not intirely finish’d as he still attends to the interests of the widow.—To prevent in future, similar unpleasant delays, as that which Attended your letter sent to me through the department of state, with a request, that it might be forwarded “in their first dispatches to me,” I should recommend in preference, their being sent in their first dispatches to the minister in paris; for in 20 Years, that I have held the office of Consul here, I have only receiv’d three printed circulars, and one small pamphlet of laws from that department.—and I am yet to learn, if the many hundred pages I have written, in all this period of time, have ever reach’d their destination.—I will not importune you, Sir, in reciting the inconveniences which result from so continu’d a silence, as it would only be offering, what must more forcibly present itself to your own mind.—Receive, Sir, the renewal of my constant esteem and respect.

Th: Appleton

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 13 Mar. 1818 and so recorded in SJL. RC (MHi); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Joseph Milligan, 18 May 1818, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson esquire Monticello Virginia U.S. of America”; stamped “SHIP”; franked; postmarked Philadelphia, 3 Mar. FC (Lb in DNA: RG 84, CRL); in Appleton’s hand; at foot of text: “Sent by the Brig Wilmot Capt Deveraux for Phila who Sail’d the 6. Jany.” Enclosure: Elisabetta Mazzei Pini to TJ, 18 Dec. 1817, and enclosure.

The collector of baltimore was James H. McCulloch. TJ’s letter to mr carmigniani (Carmignani) is printed above at 18 July 1816. the widow: Antonia Antoni Mazzei.

On 13 Dec. 1817 Appleton recorded receipt of the bill of exchange for 2,120 francs, which he then sold to J. C. Ulrick for 392 dollars, noting that “the bill Cost mr Jefferson 400 Spanish doll—& produc’d here only—392 Dollrs.” The difference of $8 was then deducted from the amount paid to Elisabetta Mazzei Pini, so that she received “372.52—in lieu of 380.52.” The balance recorded to TJ’s credit was $19.42 (MS in MBPLi: Appleton Account Book; entirely in Appleton’s hand; composed in two sittings; written perpendicularly in left margin: “for bala Sent wine—See Memo Book”).

1Word not in FC.

2Preceding two words not in FC.

3Word interlined in FC.

4RC: “rimain.” FC: “remain.”

5FC: “19. Doll 40.”

Index Entries

  • Appleton, Thomas; account with TJ search
  • Appleton, Thomas; and C. Bellini’s estate search
  • Appleton, Thomas; and P. Mazzei’s estate search
  • Appleton, Thomas; and stonecutters search
  • Appleton, Thomas; and vintner and gardener for TJ search
  • Appleton, Thomas; and wine for TJ search
  • Appleton, Thomas; consul at Leghorn search
  • Appleton, Thomas; letters from search
  • Barziza, Giovanni (John L.), Count; TJ conveys letter to search
  • Bellini, Charles (Carlo Maria Marchionne); estate of search
  • books; biographical search
  • Carmignani, Giovanni; and P. Mazzei’s estate search
  • Central College; stonecutters for search
  • Devereaux, Capt. search
  • Fancelli, Giovanni Battista; and C. Bellini estate search
  • Italy; stonecutters from search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; account with T. Appleton search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; and C. Bellini estate search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; debt to P. Mazzei search
  • John Adams (ship); passengers on search
  • Mazzei, Antonia Antoni (Philip Mazzei’s second wife); and P. Mazzei’s estate search
  • Mazzei, Philip; proposed biography of search
  • Mazzei, Philip; TJ’s debt to search
  • McCulloch, James Hugh (father of James H. McCulloh); collector at Baltimore search
  • Montepulciano (wine); TJ orders search
  • Monticello (TJ’s Albemarle Co. estate); gardens search
  • Monticello (TJ’s Albemarle Co. estate); viticulture at search
  • Perkins, Thomas; and C. Bellini estate search
  • Pini, Andrea Tozzi (Elisabetta Mazzei Pini’s husband); and P. Mazzei’s estate search
  • Pini, Elisabetta Mazzei (Philip Mazzei’s daughter; Andrea Pini’s wife); and P. Mazzei’s estate search
  • Reynolds, J.; and proposed biography of P. Mazzei search
  • State Department, U.S.; forwards letters search
  • Ulrick, J. C. search
  • Vaughan, John; makes payments for TJ search
  • Wilmot (brig) search
  • wine; Montepulciano search
  • wine; TJ orders from T. Appleton search