Albert Gallatin to Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1805
From Albert Gallatin
Washington 15th July 1805
Dear Sir
I was much disappointed in finding this morning that you were gone; for I had understood that you did not set off till to morrow.
There were three points only on which I want your decision.
1st. Revenue cutters. How many new armed ones shall be provided, one, two, or three? & what shall be their force? the greatest which is allowed which will be about 130 tons 12 guns (sixes) & 70 men,? or the size which I had contemplated vizt. 90-100 tons 8 guns—30-40 men?
2d. Simons the collector He is avaricious & greedy; I have stronger reasons to complain of him than any contained in the Anonymous letter, & was only waiting for his final answer to lay the subject before you. The three last letters which have passed are enclosed, to the last of which no answer has yet been received. His last quarterly account is not yet received (for first Quarter of 1805) for which he has of course been also written to.—The question is supposing an enquiry to be resorted to, whom we shall apply to. Freneau is I believe his friend & might not like it. Mulligan is hardly capable enough, & yet is within my reach the best that has offered. Perhaps you may suggest some more proper. If removed will not Doyley be his successor?
3d. Vacancy in East Orleans land commission. I think you mentioned Van Pradelles. Whether You shall appoint him or any other, it is necessary that a commission should issue as early as possible & be sent to me for transmission. If either Lewis or the new appointed declines, would it not be best, unless you know some person who will certainly go, to send a blank commission to Claiborne? Gurley has accepted; and all the other commissions are in train.
I intend going immediately to New York, & wish to know when you intend to be here, in order that I may attend. The French bills or some other unforeseen circumstance may bring me back sooner: otherwise it will not be necessary for the Treasury business that I should be here before the last of September.
With sincere respect & attachment I remain Your obedient Servant
Albert Gallatin
Must the instructions to the revenue cutters be the same as for the John Adams?
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 20 July and “revenue cutters—Simonds—Van Pradelles” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures: (1) Gallatin to James Simons, Washington, 25 Apr., inquiring into a discrepancy between Simons’s account current of money due to the United States and his weekly return; as of 31 Dec. 1804, the difference was more than $16,000; Gallatin asks for an explanation; “if the Account Current is correct, as it ought to be,” Simons should credit the difference in his next weekly return, so that it “may exhibit the true amount of public monies in your hands” (Tr in same). (2) Simons to Gallatin, Soldier’s Retreat, 17 May; Simons has been away from Charleston supervising a large navy contract and also attending to his cotton crop; he asks Gallatin’s “friendly indulgence” until mid-June, after which he pledges to “devote myself this Summer to adjust every matter of accounts with the Comptroller”; Simons recollects two charges that should soon be credited to him, including more than $8,000 in drawbacks for goods exported to New Orleans but actually landed in foreign ports and “several thousand Dollars” in duties that were “short charged to individuals,” which Simons blames on errors committed by the naval officer (Tr in same). (3) Gallatin to Simons, Washington, 6 June, reminding Simons that the law authorizes collectors to appoint deputies in their absence and that attending to private concerns “cannot be plead as an apology for the omission or delay of an official duty”; Gallatin is informed that part of the discrepancy in accounts may arise from the marine hospital accounts, which cannot be closed until Simons provides receipts previously requested by the comptroller; this still leaves more than $6,000 that cannot be reconciled by the explanations offered by Simons, since he has already taken credit for these in his accounts; Simons should, “without hesitation,” refund the charges already disallowed by accounting officers, “as there is not a shadow of doubt that they have been properly rejected from your credit” (Tr in same).
you were gone: TJ left Washington on 15 July and arrived at Monticello on the 18th. His expenses on the journey totaled $43.85 (, 2:1160).
Anonymous letter: see TJ to Gallatin, 10 July.
Benedict F. Van Pradelles had written to Gallatin on 18 Apr. from Lexington, Kentucky, tendering his services as either register or land claims commissioner for Orleans Territory, citing his extensive familiarity with land claims, titles, and surveying and his fluency in the French language (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR; endorsed by TJ: “Van Pradelles, Benedict. to be Comr. Register &c.”). Writing to Gallatin the previous day from Millersburg, Kentucky, Jean Savary de Valcoulon recommended Van Pradelles for a land office appointment in the territory, citing his “deep knowledge in titles and land investigations.” Savary also recommended his friend Peter John Robert, a tobacco manufacturer, and Waldemar Mentelle, a young man lacking experience but possessing a “good disposition and a natural genius” (RC in same; endorsed by TJ: “Van Pradelles. Robert, P.J. Mentelle, Valdemar} emploimt in Western country”). Samuel Brown of Lexington, writing to his brother John Brown on 9 Apr., also recommended Robert (RC in same; endorsed by TJ: “Robert, Peter John. Comr. Register &c.”). On 20 Apr., James Morrison of Lexington asked Savary to use his influence with Gallatin to secure some appointment for Mentelle in Louisiana (RC in same; endorsed by TJ: “Mentelle Waldemar, land office Louisa.”).
French bills: see Gallatin to TJ, 1 July, and TJ to Gallatin, 2 July.
John Adams: that is, the frigate Adams (see Notes on a Cabinet Meeting, 8 July).