Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to James Taylor, Jr., 29 January 1804

To James Taylor, Jr.

Washington Jan. 29. 1804.

Sir

Immediately on the reciept of your favor of Dec. 29. I desired mr Barnes to remit you 94.68 D the balance due to you which I presume he has done.   I used formerly to be supplied from Norfolk with moulded candles of Myrtle wax, sometimes indeed so adulterated as to be unfit for use, but sometimes pure & good. when such, I prefer them for my own use to any candle on account of their cleanness & fragrance. if you could furnish me with 100. ℔. of sufficiently pure, & of the larger size I should be glad of them.   I have been so troublesome to my friend Colo. Newton with my cyder commissions & others, that I have avoided trespassing on him this year: but were you to meet with Hughs’s crab cyder, genuine & good, 3. or 4 barrels would be very acceptable. but they must come double-cased, or they will come half-water, as has happened on the way from Norfolk with all I have had hitherto from thence. Accept my salutations & respects.

Th: Jefferson

PrC (MHi); at foot of text: “Mr. Taylor”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso.

Taylor’s favor, recorded in SJL as received 7 Jan., has not been found. A previous letter from Taylor of 22 Nov. 1803, recorded in SJL as received 2 Dec., and TJ’s response of 3 Dec. have also not been found.

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