To Thomas Jefferson from John Mandeville, 30 September 1803
From John Mandeville
Alexandria 30th. Septr. 1803
Sir
The Committe of Health with thanks acknowledge the receipt of your humane donation of one hundred Dollars transmitted to us through the medium of our Secretary who is now indisposed—
By Order of the Committe
John Mandeville
Sectry. Pro tem.
RC (MHi); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr.”; endorsed by TJ as received 1 Oct. and so recorded in SJL with notation “recd 100. d.”
Virginia merchant John Mandeville was part of the nine-member Committee of Health, organized by the Alexandria council on 10 Sep. and chaired by Andrew Jamieson. Any three committee members were empowered to use all necessary measures to “arrest the progress of disease and to support and relieve those who may be afflicted” and occasionally publish an accurate statement of the health of the town (James Muir, Death Abolished: A Sermon [Alexandria, 1803], appendix; , 1:314-15; Alexandria Advertiser and Commercial Intelligencer, 10 Sep. 1803).
our secretary: Samuel Snowden.