To Thomas Jefferson from John M. Gelston, 1 September 1804
From John M. Gelston
New Orleans 1st. September 1804
Sir,
The enclosed letter will inform you of the death of my affectionate friend H B. Trist, and the petition accompanying this I have taken the liberty to send to you, in the hope that the motive which prompts me to this step, will be considered by you as a sufficient apology for the impropriety of my addressing you.
As I had myself an opportunity of judging the real sentiments of the signers of the representation, I am enabled to say that it expresses no more than their ardent wishes; and it would not become me to say more to you.
I have the honor to be, with the most perfect respect your very obedient servant
Jno. M Gelston
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); at foot of text: “Ths. Jefferson President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 9 Oct. and “Brown Wm. to be Collector v. Trist” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: possibly Elizabeth House Trist to TJ, 31 Aug. Other enclosure printed below.
John M. Gelston, who died from fever a couple of weeks after sending this message, had recently moved from New York City to New Orleans, where he established a commission business. The son of David Gelston, he was friends with Meriwether Lewis and performed secretarial duties for James Monroe when Monroe was minister to France (New York American Citizen, 26 Oct.; , 3:60; , 2:738; William C. C. Claiborne to TJ, 18 Sep.).