To Thomas Jefferson from John Breckinridge and Buckner Thruston, 5 April 1805
From John Breckinridge and Buckner Thruston
Kentucky April 5. 1805.
Mr. Joshua Lewis of Jessamine County in this State having an intention of visiting Louisa., & being willing to serve as a Commr under the act of the last session of Congress for adjusting the titles to lands there; I can certify, that Mr. Lewis is a Gentn. of good Character, respectable Connections, good understanding & education, a practising Lawyer; & possesses the Confidence of his County, having often represented it in the legislature of this State.—I am informed, that he understands the French language, but can only speak from Information knowing nothing of that language myself
John Breckinridge
Kentucky April 5th. 1805.
The above Representation of Mr Lewis I believe to be just; In Addition I know that he has a tolerable knowledge of the French Language being able to translate with considerable Ease, and I think with a little practice would speak it fluently.
B. Thruston
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); written on the same sheet; endorsed by TJ as received 24 Apr. and “Lewis Joshua to be Comr. Westwd.” and so recorded in SJL, as two letters connected by a brace with John Boyle to TJ, 20 Mch.
Buckner Thruston (1763-1845), originally of Gloucester County, Virginia, graduated from the College of William and Mary and then moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where he opened a law practice. After Kentucky became a state in 1792, Thruston served as the first clerk of the state senate and as a district and circuit court judge. In 1804, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, resigning the seat in 1809 to become judge of the circuit court of the District of Columbia, a position he held until his death (; Lexington Kentucky Gazette and General Advertiser, 27 Nov. 1804; Vol. 32:570).
John Brown sent TJ a recommendation for Joshua Lewis that he had received from a member of the Dufour family in Kentucky. Written on 16 Apr. at First Vineyard, the letter stressed both Lewis’s knowledge of the French language and his skill at pronunciation (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR; endorsed by TJ: “Lewis Joshua. to be Register Louisa.”).