Robert Brent to Thomas Jefferson, 19 July 1805
From Robert Brent
Washington July 19th. 1805
Sir
I take the liberty of enclosing you a letter which has been address’d to me by Philip Williams—one of the persons in prison here, who stand convicted of Forgery—
I have stated in my answer to Williams that I have forwarded his letter to you,—& expressed,1—at the same time a doubt, whether you could, were you so disposed, alter the mode of punishment in the manner he proposes—
You have already, no doubt, been fully apprised of his case, and probably his letter to me is only a repetition of a request already made known to you.
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of respect & Esteem, Sir, Your Obt Sert
Robert Brent
RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 22 July and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: Philip Williams to Brent, Washington, 16 July, explaining that he wrote to the district marshal to request that he serve out the remainder of his sentence in the navy, either as a free man or as a convict, but has yet to receive a reply; he appeals to Brent for assistance based on the mayor’s former “disposition to befriend me” (RC in same).
Williams was convicted along with his associate Jacob Ray of counterfeiting notes of the Bank of the United States (Vol. 43:624n).
1. MS: “expessed.”