To Thomas Jefferson from Lyman Spalding, 11 February 1804
From Lyman Spalding
Portsmouth Feby. 11th 1804
Sir,
Shall I again presume to call one moment of your important time, to so small a subject, as the bill of Mortality for Portsmouth, for 1803, which I beg you to accept.
I am Sir your most obt humble Servt.
L. Spalding.
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “The President of the U.S.”; endorsed by TJ as received 22 Feb. and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Spalding, “Bill of Mortality, for Portsmouth, Newhampshire, for A.D. 1803,” recording the number and causes of death as well as the ages of the victims (printed copy in same).
again presume to call: Spalding had sent TJ annual compilations of vital statistics for Portsmouth for the previous two years; see Vol. 36:626 and Vol. 39:566.