Thomas Jefferson Papers

John Steele to Thomas Jefferson, 1 June 1816

From John Steele

Collectors office Philada June 1st 1816

Sir,

Yours of the 18th instant came duly to hand—I had, previously, received a letter from Mr Cathalan containing a Bill of lading, and had written to you for advice where to send the goods

They1 are now laden on board the Scr Five Sisters, which will Sail on tomorrow, and consigned agreeably to your instructions

The Box, which Mr Cathalan informs me had, in mistake, been shipped without an outside wrapper, was somewhat injured when I recd it from the vessel. I had it matted & expect it will reach you in safety

Enclosed are Bills of lading & freight with a statement of duty & charges

It will always give me pleasure to render you any service, that my situation here will afford me opportunity to perform

With most respectful Consideration yours &C.

Jno Steele

RC (ViU: TJP-ER); endorsed by TJ as received 7 June 1816 and so recorded in SJL. RC (DLC); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Joseph C. Cabell, 13 July 1816, on recto and verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Monticello”; franked; postmarked Philadelphia, 1 June. Enclosure: bill of lading, Philadelphia, 28 May 1816, according to which Steele had shipped to TJ, bound for Richmond aboard the schooner Five Sisters under Michael Fisher, “One Case containing fifty bottles Hermitage Wine” and “One matted Box containing Macarony,” to be delivered to Gibson & Jefferson in Richmond, with that firm to pay freight “at the rate of 12½ Cents pr [hwt?] with primage and average accustomed” (printed form in ViU: TJP-MJ; with multiple blanks filled by Steele and one, the rate of freight, apparently by Fisher, all rendered above in italics; signed by Fisher; one word illegible). Other enclosures not found.

1Manuscript: “The.”

Index Entries

  • Cathalan, Stephen (Étienne) (1757–1819); and wine for TJ search
  • Fisher, Michael (ship captain) search
  • Five Sisters (schooner) search
  • food; macaroni search
  • France; wines from search
  • Gibson & Jefferson (Richmond firm); and wine acquired by TJ search
  • Hermitage (wine); sent to TJ search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; orders wine from S. Cathalan search
  • macaroni; sent to TJ search
  • Steele, John; and packages for TJ search
  • Steele, John; letters from search
  • wine; French search
  • wine; Hermitage search
  • wine; sent to TJ search