To Thomas Jefferson from George Wythe, 12 November 1803
From George Wythe
Novembr’, 12, 1803.
G’ Wythe to Th’ Jefferson
In the list of successfull candidates for office, in the territorie latelie ceded by the government of France to the united states, his friends will rejoice to find the name of Humphrey Brooke. He is reported by those best acquainted with him to be a man of capacitie, diligence, benevolence, urbanitie, blameless manners. The object of his contemplated migration from his present residence in the county of Essex, is to provide for a numerous progenie better than in his scantie circumstances he can do here. Farewell.
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); endorsed by TJ as received 16 Dec. and “Brooke Humphrey for Louisiana” and so recorded in SJL.
Humphrey B. brooke served as a delegate from Essex County in the Virginia General Assembly for 1796. In 1805, a friend recommended him to TJ as “one of the best Surveyors in our state” (Leonard, General Assembly, 203; Thomas Lomax to TJ, 16 Mch. 1805).