To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 17 February 1793
From John Syme
Virginia, Rockey Mills, 17th. Feby 1793.
Dear Sir
Your Very Freindly attention to Mrs. Barclay, induces Me, to ask the Favor of You, to give the inclos’d, a safer Conveyance, than either Her, Or Myself can do, and as it Contains Matters of importance, the Obligation Would be greatly added to, by forwarding the Answer, which is speedily wanted. We Experience so Many disapointments by private Oportunitys, that, it is Hop’d, the Freedom will not be taken Amiss.
Not Hearing of Late, of your Farther intintions of resigning, We wish You may alter your Mind, as be assur’d, You Will shortly have, an Addition to the Number of Your Freinds, and particularly some of My Connections. It is said by Gentlemen who Visit your part of the World, They do not like the going on of Things, any More than Yourself. Please Accept, the best Wishes, and Blessings, of all at the retreat and this place, which Concludes me for present, Dear Sir, Your Sincere Freind & Servt.
J Syme
RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as received 26 Feb. 1793 and so recorded in SJL.
The Inclos’d, not found, was undoubtedly a letter from Mary Barclay to her husband, Thomas Barclay, who had died in Lisbon the previous month while on his way to a special mission to Algiers. On 8 Mch. 1793 Syme sent a duplicate of the enclosure to TJ with a covering letter expressing the hope that one or the other, going by separate conveyances, would soon be forwarded and that he would soon hear from his “Old Freind” TJ (RC in MHi; endorsed by TJ as received 16 Mch. 1793 and so recorded in SJL).