John Devereux DeLacy to Thomas Jefferson, 8 July 1813
From John Devereux DeLacy
Charleston July the 8th 1813.
sir
The importance of the object contemplated induces me without apology to solicit your patronage for the inclosed which will shew you also, sir, what the result of my labors and researches have been since I last [had]1 the honor of addressing you—
With the greatest Respect I have the honor to subscribe myself
John Devx DeLacy
P.S. Be so good sir as to direct to me to the general post office in washington, I am anxious to get some order made in the business during the present Session of Congress—
RC (DLC); dateline adjacent to signature; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Monticello Virginia”; franked; postmarked Charleston, S.C., 10 July, and Charlottesville, 21 July; endorsed by TJ as received 21 July 1813 and so recorded in SJL.
DeLacy summarized his labors and researches in an untitled broadside published in South Carolina in July 1813 (copy at PPAmP) and probably enclosed above, which described his work as an agent for Robert R. Livingston and Robert Fulton in exploring the “the sounds and waters of the River Potomack, and Chesapeak Bay”; reported three obstructions “to an Inland communication between St. Mary’s at East Florida, and the waters of the James River and Chesapeak Bay”; calculated the total distance of those obstructions at 5⅞ miles; and concluded that $3,500 per mile would be “fully sufficient for cutting and completing it to the breadth and depth that is requisite, and that the whole of the clearings I have spoken of, will cost but a trifle in addition.” DeLacy enclosed a petition on the same subject, not found, which TJ returned without his signature on 23 July 1813.
1. Omitted word editorially supplied.
Index Entries
- Congress, U.S.; mentioned search
- DeLacy, John Devereux; and inland navigation search
- DeLacy, John Devereux; letters from search
- DeLacy, John Devereux; solicits TJ’s patronage search
- Fulton, Robert; and inland navigation search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; letters of application and recommendation to search
- Livingston, Robert R.; and inland navigation search
- patronage; letters of application and recommendation to TJ search