Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from Michael Leib, 8 March 1804

From Michael Leib

Thursday Morning March 8th. 1804

Sir,

At the request of Mrs. Heister, I send you Gros’s moral philosophy. This work was transmitted to Genl. Heister by the author, with a request, that he would deliver it to you; but death rob’d him of this pleasure. Last night he departed this life. As Mrs. Heister is preparing to depart for Hagar’s town with her husband’s remains, she wished this work to be immediately forwarded, & I have taken a pleasure in an immediate execution of her request.

With sentiments of affectionate respect I am Your obedient Servant

M Leib

RC (MHi); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received from Washington on 8 Mch. and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Johann Daniel Gros, Natural Principles of Rectitude, for the Conduct of Man in all States and Situations of Life; Demonstrated and Explained in a Systematic Treatise on Moral Philosophy (New York, 1795; Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, Washington, D.C., 1952-59, 5 vols. description ends No. 1255).

genl. heister: Maryland congressman Daniel Hiester, a native of Pennsylvania and brigadier general of militia during the Revolutionary War, was a cousin of fellow congressman General Joseph Hiester. His wife was the former Rosanna Hager, the daughter of the founder of Hagerstown (DAB description begins Allen Johnson and Dumas Malone, eds., Dictionary of American Biography, New York, 1928-36, 20 vols. description ends ; Biog. Dir. Cong. description begins Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-1989, Washington, D.C., 1989 description ends ; National Intelligencer, 9 Mch. 1804; Aurora, 14 Mch. 1804; Vol. 32:46n).

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