Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, 28 January 1800

To Thomas Mann Randolph

Philadelphia Jan. 28. 1800.

Th:J. to TMR.

Si vales bene est. ego valeo. having occasion to write to-day to Dr. Wardlaw, I touched a little on politics, but think it better to avoid it. having recieved from N. York this morning a paper giving the details of the revolution at Paris, I inclose it to you, as you cannot get it through the other papers by this week’s post. all reflections on this subject would be nugatory.—our tobo. was sold to Lieper at 7. D. on 5 instalments of from 2. months to 2. months. the expences will be about ⅔ of a dollar pr. C. so that we get 6? D. nett. I wish we may do as well with that at N. York, which is not yet sold, notwithstanding my positive recommendations from Monticello to sell.—I have not heard from you since I left home; but mr Trist tells me you are all well. I have had one letter of business from mr Richardson. we have not yet been able to get Dr. Bache’s money for Jas. Key forwarded to Richmond.—some failures the last week in N. York, but none here. they will not get well under way till the Hamburgh ships begin to arrive which are now on their return. notice has been given to-day that it will be proposed to tax bank stock, & public stock of all kinds. you did not say any thing to me I believe about renewing your subscription for the Aurora; but presuming you meant it, I shall do it, when I renew my own. I do not know what you thought as to the Chronicle; or whether you would prefer the Telegraph. I will await your directions. my tenderest love to my dear Martha & the little ones, & affectionate salutations to yourself.

P.S. I have inclosed Brown as being fuller

RC (DLC). PrC (CSmH); lacks postscript; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso. Enclosure: Philadelphia Gazette, 28 Jan. 1800.

Si vales bene est. ego valeo: the classical salutation “if you are well, that is good; I am well.”

The New York paper giving more details of events in France, including translations of the texts of decrees issued by Bonaparte and the other provisional consuls, was the Daily Advertiser dated 27 Jan., which printed information received from London the previous day. TJ decided to enclose the Philadelphia Gazette of 28 Jan., which printed information from the same New York source.

The letter of business from Richard Richardson of 7 Jan., recorded in SJL as received from Monticello on the 18th, has not been found.

Renewing your subscription: on 4 Apr. TJ paid William Duane, through an order on John Barnes, $25 for five renewals of the Aurora, including his own and Randolph’s. On 10 May TJ gave Joseph B. Varnum, Republican congressman from Massachusetts, $3 to renew his subscription to the Independent Chronicle and $3 for Randolph’s subscription to the Constitutional Telegraphe. Both were Republican semiweekly newspapers in Boston (MB description begins James A. Bear, Jr., and Lucia C. Stanton, eds., Jefferson’s Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany, 1767–1826, Princeton, 1997, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Second Series description ends , 2:964, 1016–17; Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, Washington, D.C., 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends Nos. 589, 590).

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