Archibald Robertson to Thomas Jefferson, 2 November 1820
From Archibald Robertson
Lynchburg 2nd Novr 1820
Dear Sir
Allow me to introduce to your acquaintance the bearer Mr Read who expects to pass through your neighbourhood: any attention shewn him will oblige
A. Robertson
RC (MHi); addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Monticello” by “Mr Read”; endorsed by TJ as received 7 Nov. 1820 and so recorded (with additional notation: “by mr Reed”) in SJL.
Landon Cabell Read (b. 1803), merchant, was a native of Charlotte County. In the autumn of 1820 he visited Natural Bridge, Monticello, and Montpellier on a tour with his family tutor, Nathaniel Helme. In 1831 Read was a partner in a Richmond commission business, and from 1833 until at least 1839 he partnered with Pierce Bayly in a dry-goods firm. He was still in Richmond in 1843 (Alice Read, The Reads and Their Relatives [1930], 296, 304–5; Madison, Papers, Retirement Ser., 2:139; Helme’s Account of a Visit to Monticello, [7 Nov. 1820]; canceled bond of 15 Mar. 1831 from Read to an unidentified recipient [ViHi: Hannah Family Papers]; Richmond Enquirer, 30 Sept. 1831, 19 Feb. 1835, 21 Sept. 1838; Daily Richmond Whig & Public Advertiser, 27 Dec. 1833; Read to John Sims, 9 July 1839 [ViHi: Bailey Family Papers]; Manual for the members of the First Presbyterian Church, in Richmond, Va. [1843], 12).