To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund O’Finn, 29 December 1801
From Edmund O’Finn
No. 1. Rue de la Salpetrieres.
Bordeaux 29 Decr. 1801
Thos. Jefferson Esqr:
In the Number of those who unsuccesfully struggled for the Liberty of Ireland, my Name has the Honor of being enroled as a proscribed—& seeing our Hopes deferd, I have fixd here as a merchant in the general line of Comn. business
To my Countrymen, every where,
your Character is well known
as their Friend & Benefactor,
and Citizen of the World.
You will never be deceived in whatever favorable opinion you may entertain of us—
I am happy in the opportunity of forwarding some Papers to your Adress, as it procures me the means of offering my mite of respect and attachment.—
Any Command you may be disposed to send or commit to my Care, I shall receive as a particular Honor.—
Edmd. O’Finn
formerly of Cork
RC (DLC); addressed: “Thos. Jefferson Esqr. President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 22 Feb. 1802 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures not found.
In 1798, Edmund O’Finn was an agent of the Society of United Irishmen in France, where he met with that country’s government to request military assistance for the Irish rebellion. A number of United Irishmen fled to France when the uprising failed (Marianne Elliott, Partners in Revolution: The United Irishmen and France [New Haven, 1982], 175–8, 265–9).