Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to Edward Coles, 24 April 1811

To Edward Coles

Monticello Apr. 24. 11.

Dear Sir

I left in the President’s house a print of the Diocletian palace a drawing of the Capitol on that plan, & one by mr Latrobe on a plan of his, & mentioned to the President that I would be glad to recieve them when Congress had decided whether to prosecute either or not. they hung in the room then used as a setting room. either yourself or mr Isaac Coles informed me, more than a year ago, they were forwarded for me to Richmond. having never heard of them since, I spoke yesterday to mr Isaac Coles on the subject. he thinks they were put into the hands of mr Latrobe to be forwarded. in this state of uncertainty, I take the liberty of troubling you to make the necessary enquiry for me, & if you can be instrumental in having them forwarded to the address of Messrs Gibson & Jefferson you will oblige me. your mother & family were well yesterday. accept the assurances of my esteem & respect.

Th: Jefferson

RC (NjP: Coles Papers); addressed: “Edward Coles esquire at the President’s house Washington”; franked and postmarked; endorsed by Coles. PoC (DLC); endorsed by TJ.

isaac coles wrote TJ on 29 Dec. 1809 that the drawings would be shipped in a few days. Edward’s mother Rebecca Elizabeth Tucker Coles was the widow of John Coles, who left her with a large family at his death in 1808 (Elizabeth Langhorne, K. Edward Lay, and William D. Rieley, A Virginia Family and Its Plantation Houses [1987], 2–3).

Index Entries

  • architecture; B. H. Latrobe’s drawings search
  • architecture; Diocletian’s palace search
  • Capitol, U.S.; B. H. Latrobe’s drawings of search
  • Coles, Edward; and TJ’s Washington effects search
  • Coles, Edward; letters to search
  • Coles, Isaac A.; and TJ’s Washington effects search
  • Coles, John (1745–1808); death of search
  • Coles, Rebecca Elizabeth Tucker search
  • Diocletian; drawings of palace of search
  • Gibson & Jefferson (Richmond firm); transports goods search
  • Latrobe, Benjamin Henry; drawings by search
  • President’s House; TJ’s belongings at search