To Thomas Jefferson from Theodore Peters, 30 May 1805
From Theodore Peters
Bordeaux 30 Mai 1805.
Monsieur
Permettez moi de rappeller a votre Souvenir quilqu’un pour qui vous avez eu des bontés dont le Souvenir lui est cher et ne s’effacera jamais de sa mémoire; oui Monsieur vous daignates me reçevoir en Ami, vous prites un vif Interet a ce qui me regarde et j’en aurais éprouvé une preuve eclatante si votre bonne volonté n’eut été limitée par des devoirs, je les respecte trop ces devoirs pour que je me serois permis de vous en parler, vos moments d’ailleurs sont trop précieux pour que je vous aurais importuné de mes sollicitations; mais Monsieur je suis Pere et Pere sensible et comme tel j’ose vous solliciter en faveur d’un de mes Enfants qui élevé a Boston y retourne et desire devenir Citoyen Américain, brave Garcon, ayant le coeur noble, L’ame Sensible, Intelligent et de bonne conduite il est digne de ce titre, accordés le Lui, qu’il puisse aussi éprouver le bonheur de votre sage administration et contribuer lui même a celui d’une famille nombreuse et honête: Vous eutes la bonté Monsieur a mon depart de L’Amerique de m’assurer que si jamais un de mes Enfants passat sur le Continent vous le recevriez avec bonté, c’est ce qui m’enhardit a cette démarche excusez la en faveur d’un Pere qui desire ardemment le bonheur de ses Enfants.
Agreez mes Voeux pour votre bonheur et l’assurance de mon profond respect Votre Tres humble et Tres Obeïssant Serviteur
Theódore Peters
Editors’ Translation
Bordeaux, 30 May 1805
Sir,
Allow me to refresh your memory about someone who fondly remembers your kindness and will never forget it. Yes, Sir, you deigned receive me as a friend. You took a lively interest in me. If your good will had not been limited by your responsibilities, I would have experienced striking proof of your kindness. I have too much respect for your responsibilities to allow myself to speak to you; your time is too precious for me to bother you with my request. But I am a father, Sir, a caring father, and as such I dare approach you on behalf of one of my children who was raised in Boston and is returning there. He wishes to become an American citizen. A good boy, noble, humane, intelligent, and upright, he is worthy of this title. Grant him the opportunity to know the happiness of your wise administration and to contribute to a large, honest family. When I left America, Sir, you were good enough to assure me that if one of my children ever came to the continent you would receive him kindly. This is what emboldens me to make this request. Forgive it in the name of a father who ardently wishes his children’s happiness.
Accept my wishes for your happiness and the assurance of my deep respect. Your very humble and obedient servant
Theódore Peters
RC (ViW: Tucker-Coleman Collection); endorsed by TJ as received 1 Dec. 1806 and “by his son” and so recorded in SJL.
TJ appointed Theodore Peters the vice commercial agent at Bordeaux in 1801. At least one of Peters’s children, John Peters, was educated in Boston prior to his father’s appointment. By 1822, John Peters was employed as a clerk in the War Department (Judah Delano, The Washington Directory: Showing the Name, Occupation, and Residence, of Each Head of a Family and Person in Business [Washington, D.C., 1822], 64; National Intelligencer, 11 Oct. 1837; Vol. 33:129).