To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Smith, 29 April 1802
From Samuel Smith
Washington 29. April 1802
Sir/
I do myself the honor to inclose you a letter I have recieved from
J. H. Purviance. permit me to Say that I know no Gentleman who I think every way So Compleatly qualified to Succeed Mr. Sumpter or who Could be So useful to Mr. Livingston. I am sir/
with the highest Esteem your friend & servt.
S. Smith
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); endorsed by TJ as received 29 Apr. and “Purviance John H. to be Secy. legn at Paris” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: John H. Purviance to Samuel Smith, Baltimore, 23 Apr., asking Smith to confirm the news that Thomas Sumter, Jr., soon would be leaving his post in Paris and, if so, “whether by your friendly recommendation and such other as you might have the goodness to procure for me to Mr. Livingston, I might reasonably hope for a preference” (RC in same).
SO COMPLEATLY QUALIFIED: for other expressions of confidence in the abilities of John H. Purviance, who had served as James Monroe’s secretary while he was minister to France, see Vol. 35:174n, 445n, 683.