To Thomas Jefferson from Philippe Reibelt, 17 May 1805
From Philippe Reibelt
Baltimore le 17 Mai 1805
Monsieur le President!
J’ai l’honneur, de Vous avertir, que j’ai pris la Libertè, de Vous adresser par le Schooner Polly & Sally d’Alexandrie une petite Caisse contenant les Livres specifiès, cijoint—dans la supposition, que leur examen Vous fera passer quelques moments agreablement, et que—peût etre—Quelques uns Vous Conviendroient—pour Vous, pour votre famille, et pour la bibliotheque des Departemens d’etat.
C’est le dernier extrait de mon premier transport, qui merite d’etre presentè a Vous.
Je Vous prie d’accepter mes profonds homages.
Reibelt
Editors’ Translation
Baltimore, 17 May 1805
Mister President!
I have the honor of informing you that I took the liberty of sending a small box on the schooner Polly & Sally from Alexandria containing the attached list of books, assuming that you would enjoy looking at them and would perhaps wish to acquire some for your family and the libraries of government bureaus.
It is the final part of my first shipment to warrant your consideration.
Please accept my deep regards.
Reibelt
RC (DLC); above signature: “Le Depot de Levr. Schoell et Comp. a Paris”; endorsed by TJ as received 17 May and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure not found, but see below.
une petite Caisse: TJ purchased a portion of the works Reibelt sent in this box, returning the remainder on 24 June (TJ to Reibelt, 29 May, 21 June, 24 June; List of Books Purchased from Philippe Reibelt, at 26 June).