Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from John Innes, 20 June 1804

From John Innes

City of Washington June 20th 1804

Sir

I, Take the liberty of writting you this, wishing to inform you, that I have it in contemplation to begin the Cotton Manufactoring business in this city.—I have Carried on this Business near New Haven Connecticut for eight years.—But the cituation which I had there was very Scarce of water in dry seasons and being in aremote part of the Country made it bad for hireing and acomidating work people, these things I have found a great dissadvantage in my Business Also Business in that part of the country is got very dull.—And I have resolved to move my Machinery to some other part And I think the cituation of this place is equal to any that Can be found.—There is a fine Seat for that Business on rock creek, a little above the upper Bridge that leads to Georgetown.—Should this Business meet the approbation of you and the Gentlemen of this City.—And think it proper to grant a lottery or Superscription.—to asist me in going on, I could have the work in full opperation in the Space of three months from this.—so that I could make about one hundred yds. of Cloath pr. day—and I find that goods such as I make Sells much higher here than in the northeren States.—I Begun my business without any capetel and what I have made.—I Chiefly laid out in Machinery and Buildings.—If it is not thought proper to give me any asistance And any Gentlemen in this place wishes to comence that Business, I will sell them the machinery and carry on the work for them at moderate wedges.—I have been in that Business for eighteen years and flatter my self that I understand it in all its various branches.—If required I Can have letters from the first Caracters in N Haven to certify my abilitys character and industry. If this should want time to meditate on.—Please to let me know when to call for an answer—otherwise I should be glade to know the result at present.—Please to excuse my simple adresses and the liberty I have taken

Your most obt. Servt.

John Innes

RC (DLC); smudged; at head of text: “Mr. Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 20 June and so recorded in SJL.

John Innes owned the Milford Cotton Factory in Milford, Connecticut. His business partnership with Elias Gilbert dissolved in 1802, and in July 1804, Gilbert gave public notice that he was not responsible for “the many debts” associated with the late firm of Innes & Gilbert (New Haven Connecticut Journal, 29 Jan. 1801; New York Gazette, 7 Aug. 1804).

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