From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Banks, 5 December 1796
To Henry Banks
Monticello Dec. 5 96
Sir
Your favor of Nov. 20. has come to hand. I should be perfectly willing to do any thing which would accomodate you as to the land mortgaged to me, if the matter depended on myself alone. But it is extremely delicate for me to take any step without the consent of Mr. Hanson. He is in your neighborhood, and if you will be pleased to consult him, I will forward the patents to him or to any other person he shall direct, if a private conveyance can be found; for you are aware that they are too voluminous to go by post. I sincerely wish him to concur in any measures which will expedite the paiment of the money, till which takes place my mind is not at ease. I am Sir Your very humble servt
Th: Jefferson
PrC (MHi); at foot of text: “Mr. Henry Banks”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso.
Banks’s favor of 20 Nov. 1796, recorded in SJL as received on 25 Nov. 1796, has not been found. For the land mortgaged to TJ in the purchase of his Elk Hill plantation by Banks and Thomas A. Taylor, and for his assignment of proceeds from the transaction to pay obligations for which Richard Hanson was the agent, see TJ to Banks, 15 Jan. 1795; and TJ to Taylor, 19 Feb. 1795.
Recorded in SJL, but missing, are letters from Banks to TJ of 1 and 10 Apr. 1797, 31 May 1797, and 25 Oct. 1798, received on 21 Apr., 21 Apr., 31 May 1797, and 15 Nov. 1798 respectively, as well as a letter from TJ to Banks of 31 May 1797.