Gilbert Merritt to Thomas Jefferson, 30 June 1821
From Gilbert Merritt
New York 30th June 1821—
Sir
I have taken the liberty (By this days mail) to transmit to You the fourth number of a True American paper, which we have verry recently establish in this City, and which Shall be dedicated to the support of our Republican institutions, and the Union of the American States—Fully persuaded that,1 it will meat Your approbation—
Be assured Sir, that Your name is held by myself, as well as all other americans in Greatfull rememberance, most Respecfully
Gilbert Merritt
RC (CSmH: JF); at head of text: “The Hon Thomas Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 9 July 1821 and so recorded in SJL.
Gilbert Merritt was an agent for the New York Republican Sentinel. In 1824 he served as secretary of the Jefferson Insurance Company, and by 1826 he was its “Ass’t. Pres’t.” under TJ correspondent Clarkson Crolius. Merritt lived in New York City until at least 1832 ( [1822]: 316; [1832]: 479; New-York Evening Post, 4 Nov. 1822; New York National Advocate, 14 Apr. 1824, 15 Nov. 1826).
The true american paper was the short-lived New York Republican Sentinel, which began publication in June 1821 and ceased in December 1822 (Winifred Gregory, ed., American Newspapers, 1821–1936: A Union List of Files Available in the United States and Canada [1937], 475).
1. Unmatched opening parenthesis preceding this word editorially omitted.
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