Thomas Jefferson Papers

From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Sheaff, 11 June 1804

To Henry Sheaff

Washington June 11. 1804.

Sir

Will you be so good as to send me about half a gross of best claret by the first vessel coming to this place.

Also to send for me to Richmond addressed to the care of Messrs. Gibson & Jefferson a quarter cask of good dry Lisbon (the best of that quality is called Termo.) if you have not Lisbon which is dry and good, send Sherry. accept my salutations and best wishes.

Th: Jefferson

PoC (MHi); at foot of text: “Mr. Henry Sheaff”; endorsed by TJ. Notation in SJL: “½ gross claret to Washn. Qr. cask Lisbon Monto.”

A letter of 10 July from Sheaff, recorded in SJL as received 13 July with the notation “claret Washn. Sherry Monto. 82 + 50.25 = 132.25,” has not been found. TJ received an invoice of 16 July from Sheaff for 98 bottles of claret, 50 of which were priced at $1 a bottle and the other 48 at $8 a dozen, and for a quarter cask of sherry at $50.25, totaling $132.50. TJ paid the bill several months later (MS in MHi, endorsed by TJ; MB description begins James A. Bear, Jr., and Lucia C. Stanton, eds., Jefferson’s Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany, 1767-1826, Princeton, 1997, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Second Series description ends , 2:1141; TJ to Sheaff, 6 Dec. 1804).

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