To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Sandford, 4 May 1805
From Thomas Sandford
Campbell C House Kentucky May 4. 1805
Sir
I am informed that there is a probability that Mr. Buckner Thruston will not accept a Judgeship offered him in the Orlean district. I therefore have presumed to recommend Mr. John Coburn one of the Judges of the General Court of this state (lately Associated with Mr. Thruston), as a proper person to fill that Office. He is a Gentleman of amiable manners, handsome legal acquirements, a staunch republican, able to translate the French into the English language with considerable facility, and is in every other manner qualified to make an excellent Judge.
I have the honor to be very respectfully your Ob: Servt
Thomas Sandford
RC (DNA: RG 59, LAR); endorsed by TJ as received 25 May and “Coburn John to be judge of Orleans” and so recorded in SJL.
In a letter of 17 May to an unknown recipient, Buckner Thruston asked that TJ be informed that he was declining the judgeship because of his “infirm State of Health” (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR; endorsed by TJ: “Thruston Buckner declines as judge of Orleans”). In response to a letter of 10 June from Madison, Thruston on 1 July confirmed the rumors that he was declining the judgeship because of “Ill Health & the Insalubrity of the Climate of Orleans” (RC in same, endorsed by TJ: “Thruston Buckner declines judge’s office lre to mr Madison”; , 9:447).
In a letter of 5 Apr., John Coburn asked Madison to bring to TJ’s attention several recommendations he was enclosing (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR; endorsed by TJ: “Coburn John to be a judge. lre to mr Madison”). Among these recommendations was a letter of 20 Mch. from Isaac Shelby to Madison. Shelby touted Coburn as a “gentleman possessing talents & qualifications,” having been a judge in Kentucky almost since its statehood (RC in same; endorsed by TJ: “Coburn John to be a judge Western. Shelby to mr Madison”). In a letter of 3 May to Madison, John Graham stated that Coburn could read French “with great facility,” and although not conversant in the language at present, had been fluent previously and could be again with a “few months practice.” Graham also recommended Robert Grayson as a land commissioner in Orleans Territory (RC in same, endorsed by TJ: “Coburn John as judge of Orleans. Grayson Robt. to be Comr. Louisa. Graham to mr Madison”; , 9:312-13).