To Thomas Jefferson from Tadeusz Kosciuszko, 16 December 1801
From Tadeusz Kosciuszko
25. Frimaire Paris [i.e. 16 Dec. 1801]
Sir
I supose Mr Dawson wrote to your Excellency a lettere by my desire, in whiche I had recomendet somes Officers my Countrymen, of talents, Character, Probity, and who in severales Campagnes distinguished themself by bravery. To this time i have no enswer. I beg you would do me that honor, and wether my Countrymen can expect to bi employed in your Army.
my respect and frindship
T: Kosciuszko
RC (PP: Historical Manuscripts Collection, Rare Book Department); English date supplied; endorsed by TJ as a letter of 15 Dec. received 27 Feb. 1802 and so recorded in SJL.
If John Dawson wrote to TJ about Kosciuszko’s recommendation of Polish military officers, TJ may not have received the letter. No correspondence of the sort has been found. TJ’s reply to Kosciuszko on 2 Apr. 1802 acknowledged the letter printed above, but revealed nothing about any communication from Dawson.
On 1 Nov. 1801, TJ authorized Jonathan Smith, the cashier of the Bank of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, to receive Kosciuszko’s stock dividends: “Know all men by these presents that I Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Attorney in fact for General Thaddeus Kosciuzko with authority to substitute others of every denomination & power, do hereby appoint Jonathan Smith of Philadelphia a substitute for the sd Thaddeus Kosciuszko, for the special purpose and with full power to recieve from time to time and at all times as they shall become due from the bank of Pensylvania all dividends to which he the said Thaddeus may be entitled as a holder of shares of the stock in the said bank, and to give valid reciepts & discharges for the same as fully as I myself might do. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal this 1st. day of November 1801” (PrC in MHi, entirely in TJ’s hand, including at foot of text, in anticipation of signatures of witnesses, “Attest”; TJ to Smith and Smith to TJ, both 20 July 1802).