Thomas Jefferson Papers

James Monroe to Thomas Jefferson, 15 September 1823

From James Monroe

Highland Sepr 15th 1823

Dear Sir

Can you give me any information respecting the boundaries, of your small tract of land, between mr Alexanders & mine, to enable me to ascertain its bearing, on the lower end, of that portion of mine, belonging to the Blenheim tract, & of the other tracts, which I purchased, of Henderson & anthony Mullins. This knowledge will be material, in case, I should survey my land, while I am in the county. I will be thankful also for information, by what rule, I may ascertain the precise boundaries, of mr Alexanders land, which bears on mine, in the mountain.

My health is better than when I arrivd, but still it is delicate—The weather has also been bad—I should nevertheless have been with you, had I not been prevented, by motives of delicacy, regarding the office which I hold, deeming it proper, to avoid meeting, at this time, and especially at your house, the respectable individual expected there, lest it might be considerd, & treated, by the Editors of news papers, & in consequence by the public, as an affair arrangd in reference to a particular object, whereby we should be compromitted improperly. I mention this to you in confidence hoping that you will approve my motive.

very respectfully & sincerely your friend

James Monroe

PS should I survey my land I shall want a copy of the Blenheim patent. Where can I obtain it? It will be material only in reference to the boundaries referrd to, & the lower, or Eastern line, of that tract.

I send, in a phial, a small natural curiosity from Dr Wallace, a flying fish, which I promisd to deliver.

RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as received the day it was written and so recorded in SJL.

The small tract of land was apparently Ingraham’s tract, a portion of the Monticello estate that TJ had acquired in 1788 (Betts, Farm Book, pt. 1, p. 127). The 9,350-acre blenheim tract had been patented by John Carter in 1730 (Woods, Albemarle, 163–4).

The respectable individual expected to visit TJ was Secretary of the Treasury William H. Crawford. Monroe feared that if he joined them, it would fuel speculation that the particular object of the meeting was discussion of Crawford’s presidential prospects.

Index Entries

  • Alexander, Eli; lands of search
  • Carter, John; and Albemarle Co. land search
  • Crawford, William Harris; presidential candidacy of search
  • Crawford, William Harris; proposed visit to Monticello of search
  • fish; flying search
  • fish; sent to TJ search
  • Henderson, John; sells land to J. Monroe search
  • Highland (J. Monroe’s Albemarle Co. estate); boundary of search
  • Highland (J. Monroe’s Albemarle Co. estate); J. Monroe at search
  • Ingraham’s tract (TJ’s Albemarle Co. property) search
  • Monroe, James (1758–1831); and proposed visit of W. H. Crawford to Monticello search
  • Monroe, James (1758–1831); health of search
  • Monroe, James (1758–1831); letters from search
  • Mullins, Anthony; sells land to J. Monroe search
  • newspapers; and presidential election of1824 search
  • United States; and presidential election of1824 search
  • Wallace, James Westwood; sends flying fish to TJ search
  • weather; inclement search