To Thomas Jefferson from Peter Carr, 29 January 1803
From Peter Carr
Richmond. Janry. 29th. 1803
Dear Sir
This will be presented by Mr William Brockenbrough, who is on a visit to Washington for a few weeks. A member of the Executive Council of Virginia, you will find in him, a man of real talents, and very great worth. This will be a sufficient recommendation, to your civilities and attention. Your letter of the 21st. was duely received. I communicated the contents of it to Mr. Harvie, and he appeared to be perfectly satisfied. We passed yesterday a resolution Upon the subject of The Missisipi, with but one dissenting voice. Accept assurances of my sincere attachment—
P: Carr
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “President of U States”; endorsed by TJ as received 4 Feb. and so recorded in SJL.
william brockenbrough was a lawyer and later a judge. Identified as a member of the so-called Richmond Junto, which wielded great influence over the state’s Republican Party, he also helped shape arguments against John Marshall’s nationalistic judicial philosophy. In 1818, he served on the commission that selected Charlottesville as the location for the University of Virginia (, 2:255–6).
The resolution of Virginia’s General Assembly expressed support for the national government in its efforts to secure the right of deposit at New Orleans and hoped that, if needed, “such measures will be adopted as become a free and independent nation, who know their rights, and are able to defend them” (Richmond Virginia Argus, 2 Feb. 1803).