To Thomas Jefferson from John Mason, 13 May 1805
From John Mason
George Town 13 May 1805
Dear Sir
Enclosed I take the Liberty to hand you for your consideration my Friend Hodgson’s Invoice of the two Glasses which I mentioned to you some time agoe; you will be pleased remark, that in estimating these plates, by the square inch, the Frames are included, which are said to be remarkably elegant large, and richly ornamented—
I do my self the Pleasure also to send you herein a Sketch of the country and roads from this Place to Occoquan; which I have made out roughly from recollection, but which you will find accurate enough, I flatter myself, to serve as a guide in your proposed excursion—From Ward’s Tavern, opposite to Colchester, to Piscataway, there is no Tavern, I have noted Mr. Graham’s in Dougues Neck—and my Brother’s (William Mason) on the Plat, both are near your Rout and will be extremely happy to see you
With great Respect I have the honor to be Sir Your very obt Sert
J. Mason
RC (MHi); at foot of text: “The President”; endorsed by TJ as received 14 May and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures not found, but see below.
Hodgson’s Invoice: an 1802 inventory of Alexandria merchant William Hodgson included what he advertised as two large and superb looking glasses imported from London, with “suitable ornaments” (, 1:208-9; Washington Federalist, 6 Aug. 1802).
excursion: TJ was interested in finding the shortest route south through northern Virginia, both for “the mail & the traveller.” As part of his investigation, he modified his trip home on 15 July so as to pass through Occoquan (, 2:1160; TJ to Nathaniel Ellicott, 7 July).
Mason and his brother William Mason grew up at Gunston Hall near Occoquan, as did George Graham, a distant relative. Dogues Neck was the site of the family seat before Gunston Hall was built in the 1750s (Kate Mason Rowland, The Life of George Mason, 1725-1792: Including His Speeches, Public Papers, and Correspondence, 2 vols. [New York, 1892], 1:57; Pamela C. Copeland and Richard K. MacMaster, The Five George Masons: Patriots and Planters of Virginia and Maryland [Fairfax, Va., 2016], 101, 253).