To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Appleton, 16 March 1805
From Thomas Appleton
Leghorn 16th. of march 1805
Sir
By the desire of Mr. Mazzei I have shipped on board the schooner Dolphin Capt. Williams for Philadelphia, one case of Vine cuttings, and four small boxes of strawberry-plants, which I have directed to the care of Mr. Muhlenburg Collector of that port; to be forwarded to you.—I have enjoined on the captain a very particular Attention to the plants, which he has obligingly promised me to fulfill.—In the course of the present month I shall receive the montepulciano wine which will be sent by the first Vessel after for Baltimore, or Philadelphia.—I have this day receiv’d a letter from Malta in date of the 25th. of february which contains the following passage “Commodore Barron is here in a very dangerous State of health.—The Constitution, President, Constellation and Essex frigates with the usual Brigs and Schooners form the squadron.”—
I have the honor to be with the highest respect Your devoted Servant.
Th: Appleton
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson esquire President of the United States of America &c &c”; endorsed by TJ as received 27 May and so recorded in SJL. Enclosed in J. P. G. Muhlenberg to TJ, 25 May 1805. FC (Lb in DNA: RG 84, CR, Leghorn).
TJ did not have success with the strawberry plants sent by Philip Mazzei; see TJ to Mazzei, 18 July 1804, and J. P. G. Muhlenberg to TJ, 25 May 1805.
Samuel Barron suffered from liver disease from his arrival in the Mediterranean in September 1804 until he returned to the United States in May 1805 (, 9:153; Joseph Barnes to TJ, 8 Oct. and 24 Dec. 1804).