Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to William Bentley, 19 August 1805

To William Bentley

Monticello Aug. 19. 05

Sir

Your favor of July 18. was duly recieved, & I with pleasure forward to you the expressions of my respect & esteem for the venerable General Starke, whose name, lately mentioned in the newspapers, had excited in me, at the time, the sensations which the recollection of his services were calculated to inspire. I had been witheld from expressing them to him by a doubt of the propriety of such a step from one who is personally unknown to him. disinterested esteem, however, & approbation, cannot be unacceptable to any one. I therefore take the liberty of solliciting your delivery of the inclosed letter to him. and I perform this duty with the more pleasure as it furnishes an occasion of tendering to yourself my friendly salutations, & assurances of great esteem & respect.

Th: Jefferson

RC (facsimile in Christie’s East catalog, auction No. 8001, 14 May 1997, item 11); at foot of text: “The revd. Mr. Bentley.” PoC (DLC). Enclosure: TJ to John Stark, 19 Aug. Enclosed in TJ to Jacob Crowninshield, 19 Aug.

lately mentioned in the newspapers: the Salem Register first circulated a report that General John Stark “still maintains the vigour of his patriotism” in his 77th year (Salem Register, 27 June; Baltimore American and Commercial Daily Advertiser, 8 July).

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