Thomas Jefferson Papers

John Vaughan to Thomas Jefferson, 31 October 1822

From John Vaughan

Philad: Oct. 31. 1822

Dr sir

I have recd a letter from Dodge & Oxnard of 24 Augt acknowledging receipt of the Bill on Paris for 960 Fs.

Our friend Mrs Wistar has been & is much distressed on accot of her Son, who has a desire to enter into the Navy, which no reasoning can overcome—It is against the principles of her Society, but such being his predilection & Steady determination—she not only assents, but warmly desires it, to prevent worse—He is estranged from His Studies by his anxiety to adopt this plan—Can you my Dear Sir So long & uniformly the friend of this family assist in any way or point out the manner in which the object may be accomplishe[d.] The Ladies cannot manage a Young man of ardent mind, & I forsee much distress to them & very great risk as to him if we cannot succeed.

I remain D sir Your friend &ca

Jn Vaughan

We are about printing another Vol of Trans. I shall take the liberty of putting down your name for a copy—will you want more—are you in want of any of Prior Volumes—1 a 6 old Ser New Series 1. Vol

RC (MHi); edge trimmed; endorsed by TJ as received 8 Nov. 1822 and so recorded in SJL. RC (DLC); address cover only; with Dft of TJ to Samuel Garland, 4 Aug. 1823, on verso; addressed (with editorial corrections from “Thonas” and “Monticllo”): “Thomas Jefferson Monticello Virginia”; franked; postmarked Philadelphia, 1 Nov.

Elizabeth Mifflin Wistar adhered to the pacifist principles of the Quakers (the society of Friends) (gravestone in Friends Southwestern Burial Ground, Upper Darby, Pa.). trans: Transactions of the Historical & Literary Committee of the American Philosophical Society (1819; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library, 1829 description ends , 7 [no. 343]).

Index Entries

  • American Philosophical Society, Historical and Literary Committee; Transactions search
  • Dodge & Oxnard (Marseille firm); account with TJ search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; subscriptions search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; account with Dodge & Oxnard search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Business & Financial Affairs; account with J. Vaughan search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; letters of application and recommendation to search
  • Navy Department, U.S.; appointments to search
  • patronage; letters of application and recommendation to TJ search
  • Quakers; and military service search
  • religion; Quakers search
  • Vaughan, John (1756–1841); and American Philosophical Society search
  • Vaughan, John (1756–1841); and C. Wistar’s family search
  • Vaughan, John (1756–1841); and TJ’s lines of credit in Europe search
  • Vaughan, John (1756–1841); letters from search
  • Wistar, Elizabeth Mifflin (Caspar Wistar’s wife); and appointment for son search
  • Wistar, Elizabeth Mifflin (Caspar Wistar’s wife); Quaker faith of search
  • Wistar, Mr. (Caspar Wistar’s son); seeks naval appointment search