To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Browne, 6 April 1805
From Joseph Browne
New York April 6th. 1805
Sir
I have received by the Hands of Colol. Burr a Commission by which You have honored me with the appointment of Secretary of the Territory of Louisiana; after mature consideration I accept it; and pray you will permit me to tender you my most respectfull homage therefor—
Altho’ my pursuits for some Years past have been more of a Philosophical, than statistical or political nature, I trust my conduct in this Office will merit and obtain your future patronage—
If on my voyage to or during my residence at this Land of Promise any Observations should occur which may be deemed usefull to humanity, or conducive to a knowlege of our Country, I shall beg Permission to communicate them to you.
May you in health long continue to possess the confidence and affection of your fellow Citizens—
Joseph Browne
RC (DNA: RG 59, AOC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 17 Apr. and so recorded in SJL; also endorsed by TJ: “accepts as Secy. of Louisa.”
Joseph Browne (1758-1810), a British-born physician, served as a member of the Pennsylvania line during the Revolutionary War. In 1782 he married Catherine de Visme at The Hermitage near Paramus, New Jersey. At the same ceremony Aaron Burr married de Visme’s half-sister, Theodosia Prevost. The two men were linked politically thereafter. In 1798 Browne proposed a system by which drinking water for New York City would be drawn from the Bronx River, a plan that he and Burr advocated together, which led to the establishment of the Manhattan Company. In 1804, Browne campaigned for Burr’s election as governor of New York. Once established in St. Louis as territorial secretary, Browne served as acting governor of the Louisiana Territory during James Wilkinson’s absence, during which time he made efforts to distance himself from the rumors of his brother-in-law’s potentially questionable activities. He was replaced by Frederick Bates in April 1807 (Mary-Jo Kline, ed., Political Correspondence and Public Papers of Aaron Burr, 2 vols. [Princeton, 1983], 1:lxvi, 400; 2:835; , 14:3, 98-101, 117).