Thomas Jefferson Papers

Albert Gallatin to Thomas Jefferson, 1 April 1816

From Albert Gallatin

Washington April 1st 1816

Dear Sir

I have much regretted that a detention in my journey to this place prevented my arriving at Baltimore till after your nephew’s departure. I had brought with me letters for Geneva which I have sent after him. Mr Erving1 takes duplicates, and I will send triplicates on my arrival at Paris; so that I hope that he will experience no disappointment on that account. I found the institutions and Professors as good at Geneva as when I had left it 35 years before.

After what I had written to you, you could hardly have expected that I would have accepted the French mission. It was again offered to me in so friendly manner and from so friendly motives that I was induced to accept. Nor will I conceal that I did not feel yet old enough, or had I philosophy enough to go into retirement and abstract myself altogether from public affairs. I have no expectation however that in the present state of France I can be of any utility there, and hope that I will not make a long stay in that country. The late events must have dispersed a great number of your acquaintances there. If you have yet any correspondents to which you wish any letters to be safely transmitted, such as you will send by me will be delivered in their own hands. I presume that I will sail the latter end of this month from New York, for which place I will set off to morrow. In every country and at all times I never can cease to feel gratitude, respect and attachment for you. With every wish for your happiness I remain sincerely & respectfully

Your’s

Albert Gallatin

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 9 Apr. 1816 and so recorded in SJL. RC (DLC: TJ Papers, ser. 10); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Patrick Gibson, 8 June 1816, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqre Monticello near Milton Virginia”; franked; postmarked Washington City, 2 Apr. Tr (NHi: Gallatin Papers); posthumous copy.

your nephew’s departure was that of Dabney C. Terrell. Gallatin informed Secretary of State James Monroe on 2 Feb. 1816 that he accepted the french mission (NN: Monroe Papers).

1Manuscript: “Erwing.”

Index Entries

  • Erving, George William; carries letter search
  • Gallatin, Albert; and recommendations for D. C. Terrell search
  • Gallatin, Albert; as minister plenipotentiary to France search
  • Gallatin, Albert; letters from search
  • Monroe, James; as secretary of state search
  • schools and colleges; in Geneva, Switzerland search
  • Terrell, Dabney Carr (TJ’s sister Martha Jefferson Carr’s grandson); letters of introduction for search