To Thomas Jefferson from Mathieû René Rufini, 18 May 1805
From Mathieû René Rufini
a Brunn en Moravie
le 18 May 1805.
Tres Nobles Tres Hauts et puisances Seigneurs
Le sousigner ci-devant Receveur dans les Douannes en Belgique de Sa Majeste L’Empereur Romaine et Autriche Roi d’Hongrie et de Boheme prend la respectuess liberté de suplier leurs hauts et puisances de vouloir avoir egard a ma tres humble Representation:
Comme le nomes Jean baptiste baron de Rufini mon legitime frere, qui est partis pour l’amerique l’an 1732 ou 33. et voila plusieurs anne, que je n’ai eu de ces nouvelles, j’ai suplier, il y a un et demi vos tres hauts et puisances vouloir m’en faire parvenir quelque Conoissance, il doit etre etablis a Montreal Quebec, Boston nouvelle Angletre etc selon les letres que j’en aie recue, et quil y avoit fait un brillant fortune, en y epousant un Dame Americaine.
Sil est mort, suplier tres humblement Votres tres Hauts et Puisances y faire parvenir la letre c’incluse a ces Descendent, et vouloir m’en donner un gratieuss avis. je suis
Tres Nobles Tres Hauts et Puisances Seigneurs Votre Tres humble et tres obeissant Serviteur
Mathieû René Rufini
Editors’ Translation
Brno, Moravia, 18 May 1805
Very great, noble, and powerful lords,
The undersigned, receiver of duties in Belgium for His Majesty, the Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of Austria, and King of Hungary and Bohemia, respectfully takes the liberty of begging your great and powerful eminences to consider my humble request. My legitimate brother, Jean Baptiste, baron of Rufini, left for America in 1732 or 1733. I have not had any news from him in several years. A year and a half ago I asked your great and powerful eminences to send me some news of him. Based on the letters I received, he must be living in Montreal, Quebec; Boston, New England; or some similar place, and have made a fortune there by marrying an American woman.
If he is deceased, I humbly ask your great and powerful eminences to forward the enclosed letter to his descendants and to be kind enough to notify me.
Very great, noble, and powerful lords, I am your very humble and obedient servant.
Mathieû René Rufini
RC (ViW: Tucker-Coleman Collection); in a clerk’s hand, including first name of signature; endorsed by TJ as received 1 May 1806 and so recorded in SJL. Also recorded in SJL as received 21 Sep. 1805. Enclosure not found.
quelque Conoissance: Rufini’s earlier request may have been a subject for TJ and the State Department in August 1804. On 26 Sep. 1805, the department issued a public request for information on “John Baptist Baron of Rufini” (Alexandria Expositor, 8 Nov.; TJ to Madison, 23 Aug. 1804).