Thomas Jefferson to Robert Purviance, 27 October 1805
To Robert Purviance
Washington Oct. 27. 05
Sir
Having occasion to send a box of acorns, nuts & seeds to a friend of mine at Paris, and through some port of France which has a water communication with Paris, mr. Wagner has been so kind as to procure information that the brig Lucy will sail from Baltimore on Tuesday or Wednesday for Nantes. I therefore send the box by tomorrow’s stage to Baltimore, and have taken the liberty of addressing it to you with a request that you will forward it by that vessel with the inclosed letter to mr. Wm. Patterson our commercial agent at Nantes. portage from hence to Baltimore is paid here; and as I wish mr. Patterson to recieve it clear of expence (because of the difficulty of reimbursing him) will you do me the favor to pay the freight to Nantes & the shipping charges at Baltimore, & to drop me a note of the amount which shall be immediately repaid you with many thanks. after apologising for giving you this trouble I pray you to accept my salutations & assurances of respect.
Th: Jefferson
RC (NN); addressed: “Mr. Robert Purviance Baltimore”; franked; postmarked 26 Oct.; endorsed by Purviance. PoC (MHi); endorsed by TJ. Enclosure: TJ to William Patterson, 27 Oct., and enclosure.
a friend of mine at Paris: Madame de Tessé.
Jacob Wagner had information from Purviance about the expected departure of the brig Lucy on 29 or 30 Oct. It did not actually clear the port of Baltimore for Nantes until 8 Nov. (Purviance to Wagner, 23 Oct., in DLC: Madison Papers; Baltimore Weekly Price Current, 14 Nov.).
On 14 Nov., TJ directed John Barnes to reimburse Purviance, the collector at Baltimore, the amount of two dollars for these expenses (, 2:1167; Vol. 40:541n).