Peter Derieux to Thomas Jefferson, 27 October 1816
From Peter Derieux
Richmond ce 27. oct. 1816.
Monsieur
Depuis la Lettre dont vous avés eu la bonté de m’honorer le 31. Juillet, J’en ai recu de mes parents en France, qui me croyent toujours dans L’espoir de la fortune de mr mazzei; J’en ay appris aussi que depuis le retour du Roi, Le neveu du Cte de Jaucourt mon beau pere, avoit eté nommé Ministre de La Marine, et comme ce fut principalement en consideration de mon alliance a cette famille que mr mazzei Se mit plus particulierement en avance de promesses Verbales vis a vis d’elle, je desire Lui envoyer copie de Son Testament afin de prouver a ma famille combien Ses esperances et les miennes ont eté frustrées, malgré La fortune qu’il a Laissé, et vous serais infiniment obligé Monsieur Si vous voulliés bien me faire La grace de me l’envoyer pour en tirer copie, et jaurai l’honneur de vous le remettre par La poste Suivante; ne pouvant Sans indiscretion me permettre d’esperer que vous voudriés bien prendre la peine de transcrire ce Testament dont La teneur peut etre très Longue. Dans Le nombre de parents qui me restent encore; il en est plusieurs qui malgré la Revolution, Jouissent toujours de beaucoup de Biens, et il ne Seroit pas impossible que ce dernier outrage de La fortune [à mon] egard, ne les interesse de quelque manière en ma faveur.
Me Derieux toujours aussi Sensible que reconnaissante aux assurances flatteuses de votre Souvenir prend La Liberté de vous presenter Son Respect, et J’ai L’honneur d’être dans Les Sentiments du plus respectueux attachement et reconnaissance;
P. Derieux
Editors’ Translation
Richmond 27 Oct. 1816.
Sir
Since receiving the letter you were so kind as to honor me with on 31 July, I have gotten one from my relatives in France, who still believe that I hope to inherit Mr. Mazzei’s fortune. I also learned from it that since the return of the king, the nephew of the comte de Jaucourt, my stepfather, has been appointed minister of the navy. As it was mainly in consideration of my union with this family that Mr. Mazzei pointedly gave advance verbal assurances, I would like to send him a copy of Mr. Mazzei’s will so as to prove to my family how both their hopes and mine have been frustrated, despite the large estate he left. I would be infinitely obliged to you, Sir, if you would do me the favor of sending it to me so that I can make a copy of it. I will have the honor of returning it to you by the next post, as I cannot, without indiscretion, allow myself to hope that you would be so kind as to take the trouble of transcribing this will, the contents of which are, perhaps, very long. In spite of the Revolution, several of the relations left to me still enjoy great wealth, and this last insult of chance might possibly interest them in my favor in some way.
Mrs. Derieux, who is always appreciative and grateful for the flattering assurances of your regard, takes the liberty of sending you her respects, and I have the honor to be, with feelings of the most respectful attachment and gratitude;
Sir
P. Derieux
RC (DLC); torn at seal; dateline at foot of text; endorsed by TJ as received 21 Nov. 1816 and so recorded in SJL. RC (DLC); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Fitzwhylsonn & Potter, 3 Dec. 1816, on verso; addressed: “The Honble Ths Jefferson Monticello Albemarle Cty Va”; franked; postmarked Richmond, 31 Oct. Translation by Dr. Genevieve Moene.
The letter Derieux apparently received from TJ on 31. juillet was dated 27 July 1816.
Arnail François, comte de Jaucourt, a nephew of Derieux’s stepfather, Armand Henri de Jaucourt, served as Louis XVIII’s ministre de la marine from July to September 1815 (Eugène Haag and Émile Haag, La France Protestante ou Vies des Protestants Français [1846–59], 6:51–2; Bessie E. L. Price, Some Extracts from the Correspondence of Justin Pierre Plumard Comte de Rieux [1913]; Ministère de la Marine, Annuaire de la Marine [1900]: xxix).
Philip Mazzei’s last will and testament is printed above at Thomas Appleton to TJ, 15 Apr. 1816.
Index Entries
- Derieux, Maria Margherita Martin (Peter Derieux’s wife); sends greetings to TJ search
- Derieux, Peter (Justin Pierre Plumard); and money from French relatives search
- Derieux, Peter (Justin Pierre Plumard); and P. Mazzei search
- Derieux, Peter (Justin Pierre Plumard); letters from search
- France; Bourbon dynasty restored search
- France; ministers of search
- French language; letters in, from; P. Derieux search
- French Revolution; mentioned search
- Jaucourt, Armand Henri de search
- Jaucourt, Arnail François, comte de; as French minister of the navy search
- Louis XVIII, king of France; ministers of search
- Louis XVIII, king of France; restoration of search
- Mazzei, Philip; and P. Derieux search
- Mazzei, Philip; will of search