William Hamilton to Thomas Jefferson, [on or before 30] October 1805
From William Hamilton
The Woodlds. [on or before 30] October 1805
Dear Sir
On the strength of our long acquaintance I trust you will permit me the liberty I take of introducing to your notice, my nephew Andrew Hamilton, who intends passing a few days at the city of Washington & will have the pleasure of presenting you with this letter. He will at the same time, deliver to you a small deciduous plant of the silk tree of constantinople (Mimosa Julibrisin) which if well preserved for two or three years in a pot, will afterwards succeed in the open ground. I have trees of 20 feet height which for several years past have produced their beautiful & fragrand flowers & have shewn no marks whatever of suffering from the severity of the last winter.
With the most respectful consideration I have the honor to be Dear Sir Your most humble & obedt Sert
W Hamilton
RC (DLC); partially dated; at foot of text: “The President”; endorsed by TJ as received from the Woodlands on 30 Oct. and so recorded in SJL.
Hamilton sent TJ trees and seeds on several occasions, most recently a sample of a Mimosa farnesiana in early 1803. The small silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) mentioned here was flourishing by July 1806. Hamilton sent another seedling of the same variety in 1808, which he described as “hardy enough to stand our climate.” Evidently pleased with the trees, TJ seeded more in early 1809 (, 385; Peggy Cornett, “Inspirations from the Woodlands: Jefferson’s Enduring Ties to Philadelphia’s Botanical Riches,” Twinleaf Journal and Catalogue [2005], 15-16; Vol. 31:533–5; Vol. 39:337; TJ to Hamilton, July 1806; Hamilton to TJ, 5 Feb. 1808).