To Thomas Jefferson from John Dawson, 4 April 1804
From John Dawson
Baltimore. April 4th. 1804.
Dear Sir,
You will probably recollect that some time ago I took the freedom to mention to you Mr. Nath: Levy of this place as a gentleman willing to accept an appointment on our newly acquird territory—I have been long and well acquanted with Mr. Levy, from which, and from the strong recommendations of the Secretary of the Navy, of General Mason the Messrs Brents and of all who know him I feel myself perfectly justified in recommending him to you as a person capable, and in every respect meriting the confidence of the goverment.
I shall leave this in the morning for New york, where a letter will allways find its way to me.
Receive an assurance of my highest respect & Esteem
J Dawson
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); endorsed by TJ as received 9 Apr. and so recorded in SJL; also endorsed by TJ: “Levy Nathanl. for appmt Louisa.”
In a letter of 14 Dec. 1803, Nathan levy was recommended for a revenue post to Albert Gallatin by John mason, who indicated that Levy intended to move to New Orleans and would “acquit himself with credit to himself and advantage to the public.” Levy had previously served as the U.S. naval agent in Cap-Français (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR, 7:187-8, endorsed by TJ: “Levy Nathanl. to be employd in Collection at N. Orleans. Genl. Mason to mr Gallatin”; , Nov. 1798-Mch. 1799, 533; Joseph L. Blau and Salo W. Baron, eds., The Jews of the United States, 1790-1840: A Documentary History, 3 vols. [New York, 1963], 2:325).