Louis de Tousard to Thomas Jefferson, 10 July 1805
From Louis de Tousard
Philadelphia July 10th 1805—
Sir
I have the honor of forwarding to Your Excellency a private Letter which the Marquis de La fayette entrusted to my care. It being out of my power to proceed immediately to the seat of Government to deliver it myself; I would not delay a single moment forwarding the same. I am further instructed to give Your Excellency any explanation you may require on my friend’s private and political affairs, as his confidence in me was unbounded.
I feel happy that a situation from the french Government, calling me to these peaceful shores again, affords me an opportunity of presenting Y.E. with my best respects, and to subscribe myself
Your most obedient and most humble servant
Lewis Tousard
RC (MHi); at head of text: “To Thomas Jefferson Esqr. President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 12 July and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Fulwar Skipwith to TJ, 15 Jan.
his confidence in me: see Lafayette to TJ, 22 Apr.
situation: on 23 July, Louis Marie Turreau forwarded to the State Department Tousard’s appointment as the French diplomatic agent at New Orleans (, 10:126).
On 26 July TJ signed an exequatur recognizing Tousard as subcommissary and chancellor of commercial relations for France at New Orleans (FC in DNA: RG 59, Exequaturs).