Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to John Barnes, 29 June 1811

To John Barnes

Monticello June. 29. 11.

Dear Sir

Your favor of June 18th is recieved as had been in due time that of Apr. 25. I now inclose you the order on the bank of Pensva for Genl Kosciuzko’s July dividend. I inclosed to him one copy of the bill of exchange you sent me by mr Barlow, & a 2d by mr Warden, both then expected to sail shortly & in different vessels. I have not however as yet heard of the actual sailing of either. the newspapers say they are detained till the arrival of the Essex hourly expected. still I think it would be better if you, in your visit to Philadelphia, could find some eligible conveyance for the 3d of Exchange, which with that view I now return to you. I recieved mrs Beckley’s letter in yours. presuming her unable to pay what is due to me, I mean not to have it mentioned to her again. it’s reciept would always have been & still would be a sensible convenience to me, as small sums give me difficulty while I am devoting every thing to my Washington debt, in order to get out of the bank: but impossible things must be thought no more of. you did right in paying Barry the hundred Dollars. I wonder mr Jefferson did not mention they were for him, as I had done in my order. I thank you for your kind offer of service in Philada, but at present have nothing particular for that place. expecting that the harvest we are now reaping will clear me of the bank, I am looking forward to the time, not distant I hope, when I may send to Philadelphia for every thing I use in my family. I pay 167 D. here for what costs 100.D. there. freight & charges add only 20. pr ct. if you could recommend any merchant there who would purchase for me on Commission as faithfully and kindly as you used to do, it would be a valuable service to me, as soon as I am in a state to avail myself of it. I learn with concern the increase of feebleness of which you complain. I may sympathize in it the more feelingly inasmuch as I am very sensible of it in myself. I have long lost the power of walking any distance, and feel that I do not ride now with as little fatigue as I used to do. providence is kindly withdrawing by degrees the enjoiments of life that we may leave it without reluctance. I wish you had thought a visit to Monticello as friendly to your views of health1 as Philadelphia. I am persuaded it would have been as much so, and been recieved with more welcome in our tranquil situation, than the bustle & distraction of a great town will admit. try it the next experiment you make with the same view, and follow afterwards the course which shall have proved itself most favorable, and accept in the mean time my prayers for a longer continuance of the blessings of strength, health & happiness.

Th: Jefferson

PoC (DLC); at foot of first page: “Mr Barnes”; endorsed by TJ. Enclosure: TJ to Jonathan Smith, Monticello, 29 June 1811: “Be pleased to have paiment made to John Barnes or order of all dividends which shall become due on the 1st day of July ensuing for the shares of stock held by Genl Thaddeus Kosciuzko in the bank of Pensylvania, for which this shall be your sufficient voucher” (RC at Christie, Manson and Woods International, Inc., New York City, 1993; in TJ’s hand and signed by him as “Atty for Genl Thad. Kosciuzko”; below signature: “The Cashier of the Bank of Pensylvania”; with subjoined notation by Smith: “Pay $400 & Charge Tho: Jefferson”; not recorded in SJL).

On 15 Apr. 1811 Barnes sent TJ three sets of a bill of exchange drawn by Bowie & Kurtz on William Murdock, of London, not found.

This month the physician Clark Sanford completed and at some point sent TJ an essay on Peruvian bark (cinchona), describing at length its various forms, methods of preparation, proper dosages, and use in treating intermittent fevers and other maladies common among the aged (printed circular letter dated Greenwich, Conn., June 1811, in DLC: Rare Book and Special Collections; with handwritten address: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr. Monticello”; endorsed by TJ: “Bark Peruvian”).

1Manuscript: “heath.”

Index Entries

  • Bank of Pennsylvania; stock owned by T. Kosciuszko search
  • Bank of Virginia (Richmond); TJ’s loan from search
  • Barlow, Joel; U.S. minister to France search
  • Barnes, John; and T. Kosciuszko’s American investments search
  • Barnes, John; letters to search
  • Barnes, John; TJ’s account with search
  • Barry, Richard; TJ’s debt to search
  • Beckley, Maria Prince; loan from TJ search
  • Bowie & Kurtz (Georgetown firm) search
  • cinchona (Peruvian bark); essay on search
  • Essex, USS search
  • Jefferson, George (TJ’s cousin); and payments to TJ search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; debt to R. Barry search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; loan from Bank of Virginia search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; loan to M. P. Beckley search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Health; debility search
  • Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (Thaddeus) Andrzej Bonawentura; Bank of Pennsylvania stock of search
  • Kosciuszko, Tadeusz (Thaddeus) Andrzej Bonawentura; remittances to search
  • medicine; cinchona (Peruvian bark) search
  • Murdock, William; and bills of exchange search
  • Sanford, Clark; essay on Peruvian bark (cinchona) search
  • Smith, Jonathan; cashier of Bank of Pennsylvania search
  • Smith, Jonathan; letters to accounted for search