“Horatio” to Thomas Jefferson on or before 21 October 1803
From “Horatio”
[on or before 21 Oct. 1803]
Great and Good Sir/
The inclosed are precious morsels—Read them with attention—They will do you good—Fearing you might not read the honest papers from whence I have taken them, I have, like a “d—d good natured friend”—cut them out as you see.—Consider this, my Gracious President—thou lover of justice and toleration—as the Signal of the commencement, and continuation of my attentions, (which shall be manifested in various ways) to raise and perpetuate thy great fame, and to promote thy tranquility of mind.—This shall be done—untill—we meet at Philippi—Yes—Thou “shalt see me at Philippi. Ay, at Philippi.”
Accept the “homage of my respects”—Your loving fellow Citizen
Horatio.
RC (DLC); undated. Recorded in SJL as received from “Anon.” on 21 Oct. with notation “scurrilities.” Enclosures not identified.
The writer of this letter uses the pseudonym “Horatio,” the trusted friend of the Prince of Denmark in Hamlet.
a d—d good natured friend: a line by Sir Fretful Plagiary in Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Critic; or, A Tragedy Rehearsed, 1.1.
thou shalt see me at philippi: Shakespeare, Julius Cæsar, 4.3.