Thomas Jefferson Papers

Anonymous to Thomas Jefferson, 24 August 1805

From Anonymous

Philada. August 24. 1805

Sir

Doctr. Michael Leib is going from Beer House to Beer House in the City of Philadelphia and Nothern Liberties shewing a letter on the subject of our approaching election which he says he recieved from you. He enjoins secrecy on those to whom he shews it but cares not how many see the letter; pehaps near a thousand persons of the lowest class of society have already seen it. Those who are your real friends here cannot but regret that you should correspond in any shape whatever with so noted a liar and abandoned villiain—

His only aim is evidently to raise his own consequence by shewing that he possesses so much of your confidence as to recieve a letter from you. Beware of doubtful characters & shun the robber of orphan Children. The good sense of the virtuous inhabitants of pensylvania will prevail & annihilate the proven pretensions of a few base individuals & I hope will ever support your virtuous administration.

RC (DLC); at head of text: “Thomas Jefferson President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as an anonymous letter received 5 Sep. and so recorded in SJL; also endorsed by TJ: “Leib.”

shewing a letter: see TJ to Michael Leib, 12 Aug.

robber of orphan Children: likely a reference to allegations that Leib had defrauded the heirs of Joseph Penrose (see note at Thomas Leiper to TJ, 16 Aug. 1804).

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