Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan Thompson, 18 June 1823

To Jonathan Thompson

Monticello June 18. 23.

Dear Sir

The inclosed letter informs me of the arrival at New York of some marble capitals from Leghorn for the columns of our University. I have no bill of lading, but there is probably one addressed to yourself. the letter is inclosed to inform you of the cost. if you will be so good as to drop me a line of the freight duty and other charges it shall be remitted by the first mail by way of Richmond, and you will oblige to send them to Colo Bernard Peyton at Richmond by the first sound vessel as their safe passage is important, our buildings now waiting for them. there is a mr Raggi an Italian Sculptor now in N. York waiting for this ship in which he has some articles of his own. he may perhaps come with them to Richmond and may safely be trusted with the care of ours: but I would not have them wait for him. I will pray you to return the letter when it has answered your purpose of settling the duties, if College property generally, as well as books be not exempt from duty. I salute you with great esteem and respect.

Th: Jefferson

FC (MHi); on verso of reused address cover of Joel Yancey (1773–1838) to TJ, 21 Dec. 1822; in TJ’s hand; endorsed by TJ as a letter to “Thompson Jonathan.” Enclosure: Thomas Appleton to TJ, 2 Apr. 1823 (first letter).

A missing letter from Thompson to TJ of 26 Apr. 1823, the address cover only of which has been found, is recorded in SJL as received 3 May 1823 from New York (RC in DLC; with Dft of TJ to Andrew Jackson, 18 Dec. 1823, on verso; addressed in a clerk’s hand: “Thomas Jefferson. Esquire Late President of the United States Monticello Virginia”; franked; postmarked New York, 26 Apr.).

Giacomo raggi sent TJ a letter of 6 May 1823, the address cover only of which has been found (RC in MoSHi: TJC-BC, with Dft of TJ to Ezekiel D. Withers, 25 Nov. 1823, on verso; addressed in an unidentified hand [parentheses editorially changed to brackets]: “Honr Thos. Jefferson. Charlotteville. [Monticello.] Virginia”; stamp canceled; franked; postmarked New York, 6 May), which is recorded in SJL as received from New York five days later.

Index Entries

  • Appleton, Thomas; and capitals for University of Virginia search
  • boats; carriage to and from Richmond search
  • books; tariffs on search
  • Italy; marble from search
  • marble; and G. Raggi and M. Raggi search
  • marble; for University of Virginia search
  • Peyton, Bernard; and University of Virginia search
  • Raggi, Giacomo; as stonecutter at University of Virginia search
  • Raggi, Giacomo; letter from accounted for search
  • schools and colleges; and tariffs on books search
  • Thompson, Jonathan; as collector at New York search
  • Thompson, Jonathan; letter from accounted for search
  • Thompson, Jonathan; letters to search
  • Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; capitals for search
  • Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; marble for search