To Thomas Jefferson from Wilt, Delmestre & Cie., 9 July 1787
From Wilt, Delmestre & Cie
L’Orient, 9 July 1787. Acknowledge TJ’s letter of 2 July; have drawn on him this date, for the coffee they sent, for 138₶ 19s. payable to the order of Messrs. Delaville, Le Roulx & Carié. They have received on their brig, La Sophie, arrived there from Philadelphia 28 June, a box “Sans dessus, remplie de terre avec une addresse Pacan or Illinois nuts, for Mr. Jefferson a Paris.” Since there were no instructions, the captain did not know whether they should be watered, but decided against it, “et la terre nous en parait très seche.” If he wishes them to forward the box, he should direct them whether or not to water the earth and to leave the box uncovered.
RC (DLC); 2 p.; in French; endorsed. Recorded in SJL as received 13 July 1787.
The draft by Wilt, Delmestre & Cie., dated at L’Orient, 9 July 1787, payable at one day from date to “Messieurs Laville Leroux & Carier” for the amount stated, endorsed over to La Buissiere Carié Fils & Cie., and bearing on its face the following in TJ’s hand: “July 21. 1787. Accepted. Th: Jefferson” is in DLC. The Pacan or Illinois nuts were those sent by Madison (see Madison to TJ, 15 May 1787).