Philippe Reibelt to Thomas Jefferson, 4 November 1805
From Philippe Reibelt
Baltimore le 4e. Nov. 1805.
Monsieur!
Mr. La Tullaÿe m’a envoyè la petite boïte cijointe—remplie des semences rares—pour vous la faire parvenir.
D’apres çe, que Vous m’avez dit du travail de Bossler a la Nouvelle Carte de la Virginie de Mr. Madison—Je Vous prierais, de lui confier, a son tems, l’execution des Cartes, planches &c qui feront partie du Voÿage du Capt. Lewis. je m’interesse pour lui, parceque je l’ai—pour ainsi dire, elevè.
Je dois une reponse a Mr. Lapoype—comme je sais, qu’il est a Federal City, mais pas a quelle Taverne, et que sans doute il vous presentera ses respects—je prends la liberte de joindre une petite incluse pour lui.
Je Vous prie d’agreer les plus profonds, sinceres et intimes hommages.
Reibelt.
Editors’ Translation
Baltimore, 4 Nov. 1805
Sir!
Mr. La Tullaye sent me this small box filled with rare seeds for you.
Based on what you told me about Bossler’s work on Mr. Madison’s new map of Virginia, I suggest you have him create the maps, drawings, etc., to accompany Captain Lewis’s journey. I am interested in him because I raised him, as it were.
I owe Mr. La Poype a reply. Knowing that he is in the federal city, but not at which inn, I am taking the liberty of including a short enclosure for him since he will undoubtedly present his respects to you.
I ask you to accept my deepest, most sincere and personal regards.
Reibelt
RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 4 Nov. and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure not found.
travail de Bossler a la Nouvelle Carte de la Virginie: Bishop James Madison had been compiling surveys and data for a new map of Virginia and submitted a preliminary copy to the General Assembly early in 1805. Frederick Bossler engraved the plates for the finished product, which was published and distributed in 1807. Bossler was from Switzerland and taught drawing and painting in Norfolk for a time (Walter W. Ristow, “State Maps of the Southeast to 1833,” Southeastern Geographer, 6 [1966], 34; L. Minerva Turnbull, “Private Schools in Norfolk, 1800-1860,” , 2d ser., 11 [1931], 295).