Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-30-02-0134

From Thomas Jefferson to Philippe de Létombe, 23 March 1798

To Philippe de Létombe

Philadelphia Mar. 23d 98.

Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to M. Letombe Consul of France, and asks the favor of a passport for Thomas Kanberg, a friend of his who is going to Europe on private business. he is a native of the North of Europe (perhaps Germany) has been known to Th:J. these twenty years, is a most excellent character, and no ways connected with the politics of our country or of that to which he is going. it is uncertain whether he will take his passage from Baltimore or this place; it will depend on the fact at which place he can get the best convenience for going to some port in France.

PrC (DLC); endorsed in ink on verso by TJ, who also wrote in ink at foot of text: “this was for Kosciuzko.”

Létombe replied to this letter on 24 Mch. with a brief note in French that covered the requested passport and offered to send another in a different form if that would be more suitable “à Monsieur Kanberg” (RC in MoSHi: Jefferson Papers; unsigned; dated “Ce Samedi”; endorsed by TJ as written and received on 24 Mch. 1798; enclosure not found).

In May 1797 Létombe, already in the United States as consul general of France, received the powers of minister plenipotentiary (Abraham P. Nasatir and Gary Elwyn Monell, French Consuls in the United States: A Calendar of their Correspondence in the Archives Nationales [Washington, 1967], 563). A letter from Létombe to TJ, written and received on 18 May 1797, and two from TJ to Létombe written on 2 and 29 June 1797 are recorded in SJL but have not been found.

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