John Barnes to Thomas Jefferson, 11 September 1805
From John Barnes
George Town 11th. Sepr 1805.
I had the Honor of addressing the President. 2d. Inst.—from the inclosed State of my Bank, transactions. the President will perceive the result. leaves me $48.64. Sufft: I presume (with the proposed Note of $750: for disctg. to Morrow, at, B of C, of which, the proceeds of $250. for the Use of the President) to meet either. the President—or Mr Madisons expected drafts.—
—the late alarming Accts from NY. & Philada.—the spread of the fever—I have concluded not to Approach either of the unfortunate Cities this Season.
—If therefore the President should have any particular demands here. they will be promptly. attended to.
by Sir, your most Obedt: Servt.
John Barnes.
RC (ViU: Edgehill-Randolph Papers); at foot of text: “The President U States at Monticello”; endorsed by TJ as received 13 Sep. and so recorded in SJL.
for the Use of the President: a source of revenue not mentioned by Barnes came from Georgetown merchant John Mason. On 31 Aug., Mason wrote to Barnes to explain that his old firm, Mason & Fenwick, had overcharged TJ for freight costs on an order of wine purchased in 1793 and paid for in 1797. Mason enclosed a copy of the account as settled at the time, a copy of an explanation by the firm’s Baltimore agent, and $15.50. According to his financial records, TJ received that amount from Barnes on 6 Oct. (MS in MHi, endorsed by TJ; , 2:831n, 956, 1164; Vol. 28:304).