From Thomas Jefferson to Phineas Bond, 29 June 1793
To Phineas Bond
Philadelphia June 29. 1793.
Sir
I have this moment received your favor of yesterday informing me that you have appointed Edward Thornton to be your vice Consul at Baltimore and desiring that measures may be taken to have him received. The only measure to be taken is to furnish Mr. Thornton with the President’s Exaquatur, which is in the nature of an Inspeximus, reciting that Mr. Thornton’s ‘commission has been produced to him.’ This of course renders it requisite that the Commission should be presented to the President. It is also necessary to retain a copy in my office, to be entered among the records. This has been the course with all Consular and Viceconsular commissions. I must therefore trouble you, Sir, for Mr. Thornton’s commission when the President returns, and the Exaquatur can then be issued. I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedt servt
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC); at foot of text: “Mr. Bond.” FC (Lb in DNA: RG 59, DL).
On 28 June 1793 Bond, the British consul general for the middle and southern states, had written a letter to TJ announcing the appointment of Edward Thornton, George Hammond’s secretary, as his vice-consul in Maryland to reside in Baltimore, and trusting that the United States government would receive him as such (RC in NFC; addressed: “Mr: Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 29 June 1793 and so recorded in SJL). The President received Thornton’s vice-consular commission from the Department of State on 12 July 1793, whereupon he issued an exequatur for Thornton and sent it to TJ for countersignature (Exequatur for Thornton, 12 July 1793, FC in DNA: RG 59, Exequaturs). See also , 194.