To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Ryan, 15 April 1793

From Edward Ryan

Philadelphia 15 April 1793

Sir

I propose to morrow (if the weather should be favourable, if not the next fair day) to erect a furnace for the purpose of melting pot ash.

If You, Sir, could make it convenient to honour me with your company for a few minutes at any time between the hours of two and five, you would have a much better opportunity of judging concerning the principles of the furnace than by any explanation which I could give you. My manufactory is in fifth street between pine and Lombard Street. With sentiments of the highest esteem I am Sir your most obdt. Servant.

Edward Ryan

P.S. The favour of an answer is requested by the Bearer.

RC (DNA: RG 59, MLR); dateline opposite signature; above postscript: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr”; endorsed by TJ as received 16 Apr. 1793 and so recorded in SJL.

Edward Ryan was a potash manufacturer at 106 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia (James Hardie, The Philadelphia Directory and Register [Philadelphia, 1793], 125). On 29 Apr. 1793 he was issued a patent for a “Furnace for pot and pearl ashes” (List of Patents description begins A List of Patents granted by the United States from April 10, 1792, to December 31, 1836, Washington, D.C., 1872 description ends , 7; Washington, Journal description begins Dorothy Twohig, ed., The Journal of the Proceedings of the President, 1793–1797, Charlottesville, 1981 description ends , 128).

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Source Project: Jefferson Papers
Title: To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Ryan, 15 April 1793
Author: Ryan, Edward
Recipient: Jefferson, Thomas
Date: 15 April 1793

Reference

Cite as: “To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Ryan, 15 April 1793,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-25-02-0516. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 25, 1 January–10 May 1793, ed. John Catanzariti. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1992, p. 551.]