Stephen Cathalan, Jr. to Thomas Jefferson, 2 November 1805
From Stephen Cathalan, Jr.
Marseilles 2d. November 1805.
Dear Sir
I have the honor of Confirming you my Respect of the 9th. august last;—not having had Since any american vessels in this port bound for the U. States I have directed Messrs. Jourdan & Fils of Tain to Send one Hundred bottles Virgin white wine, hermitage to Wm. Lee Esqr. our Consul at Bordeaux to be forwarded by him to you, by the first vessell bound for U. States & be consigned to the Collector of the Customhouse which they have done in two Chests No. 192. & 193. of the year 1802, and will reach Mr. Lee as soon as this Letter which goes under his Cover, as I direct him to do the needfull as above, Sending me the Amount of his disbursements.
A Gentleman arrived from Newyork told me he has Seen in the Customhouse there, Chests or packages to your address arrived in July last from Halifax which he and I Suppose to be the Same I Shipped in the Neworleans, Whereof part of the Ship & Cargo had been condemned belonging to Mr. James H. Hughes & the remainder untill further proofs;—Being, then, proved it was your property, they most have been released but I apprehend, they may have reached you in bad order or Spoiled;—the Condemnation of the New Orleans is unjust for Mr. Hughes is proved to be an American Citizen and his Share his own, bona fide, property; otherwise I would not have granted my Certificates, he will pursue an Appeal.
Your most respected favor of the 28th. June last reached me, Viâ Messina, on the 22d. ulto., I have, on receipt, ordered to Mr. Jourdan of Tain, one hundred bottles more of the same wine to be Sent to me for you;— I have, also Shipped one Chest Containg. Small boxes of Brignolles Prunes, Marseilles figs &a. on the Brig Venus of Charlestn. Capn. Eden Shotwell bound for Charleston S. Ca. to be Consigned to the Collector of the Customs & be forwarded to you, but the wine Cannot be here before She Sails.
Captn. Hazard is arrived here 4 days ago to my address with fish &a.
I as well as my remaining family are very grateful for your Kind expressions, begging the Continuation of your good protection and Friendship they present you their best respects. & I have the honor to be Very Respectfully
Dear Sir your most obedt. hble & Devoted Servant—
Stephen Cathalan.
P.S. I reiterate my Prayer for your kind protection in favor of Mr. Juliûs oliver, whom I Love as if he was my own child; as I hope after he will have paid you his & my Best Respects, he will return to Marseilles, & will continûe to be again my chancelor, it would be a great favor confered on me & on him, if that appointment in such a capacity Should be confirmed by you Sir.
RC (MHi); in a clerk’s hand, signature and postscript in Cathalan’s hand; at foot of text: “The Most Honble. Thos. Jefferson President of the United States of America”; endorsed by TJ as received 26 Jan. 1806 and so recorded in SJL. Dupl (MHi); in the clerk’s hand, signed by Cathalan; with Cathalan to TJ, 7 Nov., subjoined.