To Thomas Jefferson from Forrest & Stoddert, 13 May 1790
From Forrest & Stoddert
Georgetown 13 May 1790
Sir
From the assurances given us by Mr. Archibald Boyd, that his Brother in Paris would Pay his Debts in this Country, and that when the exchange got more favorable, He would be authorised by you to draw on his Brother, We have been induced to advance him between one and two hundred Pounds sterling to satisfy some of his most importunate Creditors, and whom he was particularly desirous of Paying, from the Circumstances of their being unable to lay out of their Money, even a short time, without injury.—Mr. Boyd has written to his Brother, requesting him to place the amount in the hands of our friend Mr. Murdock in London, and as we are not quite satisfied on the Subject, We take the liberty to ask your opinion on the probability of its being done, and your advice, if any thing farther is necessary, Mr. Boyd having inform’d us, that He was restricted drawing by You, principally on account of the low exchange which rules at present. The chief part of the Money paid for him, we settled with his Creditors at the par of Exchange say 66⅔, they being satisfied to receive on these terms, rather than have the Payment delayed, so that in the present Instance Mr. Boyd sustains no injury on this Score. With great Consideration and Respect We have the Honor to be Sir your most obedt humble Servts,
Forrest & Stoddert
RC (MHi); endorsed as received 21 May 1790 and so recorded in SJL. This letter was accompanied by one from Uriah Forrest to TJ of the same date in which he asked for advice on the subject of it and added: “There is at Havre a Young Gentleman by the Name of Fras. Lewis Taney, a Native of this State, and a very deserving man. Should it be necessary to have a Sub-Consul at that Port, I am sure he would do well in the Appointment. I have known him from His Birth, and would hold myself accountable for the propriety of his Conduct. He only arrived there about the time you left France, so that you could have no knowledge of him” (RC in MHi; endorsed as received 21 May 1790 and so recorded in SJL). See note, TJ to Walter Boyd, 6 Apr. 1790.