Thomas Jefferson Papers

Richard Colvin to Thomas Jefferson, 29 December 1823

From Richard Colvin

Baltimore. December. 29th 1823.

Sir.

Owing to the Diriliction, of Official Duties. in England. Ireland. France. Spain. Italy. Germany Turkey. Russia. and Europe. the East Indes. and the West Indes. and in South America. And for other Causes, and reasons. Time. is as fleeting as the Wind. Time. flies forgotten like a Dream at the opening day. The Arts, and sciences. are at perfection—and perhaps, for Insults, offered to Ladies.

All the Merchandize, Imported, or, brought, into the United States—the last Seven years. from England. Ireland. France. Spain. Italy. Germany. Turkey. Russia. Europe. the East Indes. and the West Indes. and, from all other foreign Countries. is the Merchandize, of all the Ladies. and all the White Women. and all the White Females. in the United States. (those not Related to me, Connexion, or kindred of mine.) the Instant they was Landed, in the United States. in Order, to Enrich them, and to encrease their Wealth. by the Tacit consent, of the Owners, and Propritors, of said Merchandize. And by the Vox Populi. of those Foreign Countries and Nations, where they was Manufactored, and raised in. I Decyphered, the Letters. Initials. Marks. and Characters. on all the Trunks. Bales. Boxes. Casks. Packetts. Cases. Hogsheads, and Chests of Tea. Imported, or, brought into the United States. the last Seven years. Hundrds of Millions of Dollars Worth. they want their Merchandize. and they1 Want the Money. for their Merchandize Vended and sold. and they ought to have it. And satisfaction, for Insults, offered. T. H. S. T. for, Theresa. T. for, Tabitha. T. for, Totus. H. for, Henrietta. H. for, Hannah. H. for, Habeo. H. for, hers. S. for, Sally. S. for Sophia. S. for, Susan. F. for, Femina. M. for, Mulier. W. for, Women. P. for, Puella. G for, Girls G. for, Gertrude. A. for, Adeline. A. for, [Alb.] D. for, Delia. D. for, Dico. D. for, Dono. N. for, Nelly. N. for, Nolo. R. for, Rebecca. R. for, Rachel. R. for, Rogo. V. for, Verina. V. for, Voluntas. and so forth. I would be prolix, if it was necessary, in thus Decyphering the Letters. Marks.2 Initials. and, Characters, on all the Trunks. Bales. Boxes. Cases. Packetts. Bags. and Hogsheads Casks of Merchandize3 and Chests of Tea. Imported, or brought into the United States—the last Eight years. from, England. Ireland. France. Spain. Italy. Germany. Russia. Europe. the East Indes. and the West Indes. and from all other Foreign Countries and Nations.

Thousands of Gentlemin, are Emigrating from the Eastern and middle States. to the State, of Virginia. and to the Southern States. they Will improve and cultivate the Country. They will build, and Establish Manufactories. and Manufacture the Cotton, Flax. and Wool raised in the southern States. such pursuits, and such, bussiness, is laudable. It will promote the interest, and increase the Wealth, of the southern States. You Can shew them how, to hitch the powers of Mechanism to the Plough. to Plough, the Forest. and how, to Apply the Powers of Mechanism, to the Machinery, of the Manufactures. to Drive the Machinery. and so can I. sir.

 

I never did approve of the Banking system. It was Collecting the specie. from the Community into Banks. then often paying them with Bank Notes. When the Banks, cease, to pay the publick with Bank Notes. and pay them With specie. they will know the Intrinsic value of specie. I hope they will then endeavour to prevent the Exportation, of Specie from the United states to the East Indes.

 

The Exportation of Specie from the United States. to the East Indes is Impolitic. It tends to Impoverish the Country, in that respect. as the Quantity, is Exported. It tends to Lower, the value of Property. and it tends, to Lower the price, of Produce. of Labour. and of Work. The publick, individually, request, to prevent the Exportation, of Specie. from the United states. to the East Indes. It is their Interest, to so.

 

The Publick, Drank health. on the Fourth day of July. the day Independance Was Atchieved. to the riseing youth, of our Country. the Children. they are all, dear Children. Sir. they are free, from Sin. they know no harm. they are their Fathers pride, and their Mothers Joy. they are the Ornament of their Country. they promote to Morality. they induce, to be religiouss. and they Endeavour, to further Justice. [Album Garéon’s?]. instructed Napoleon Buonaparte. to fight, and Win Battles with, Courage. Skill, and bravery. And Juvenis. instructed Junius. how, to Write Didactic Letters. to Induce him to get. or Cause the Administration, of Justice. to be full.

Excuse me, for the freedom, I have thus taken, of Writing to you again. It is out of respect to the Ladies. and to Junius—the Children.

I, am Your humble Servant.

Richard Colvin.

RC (DLC); three words illegible; pages numbered 4–7 by Colvin; at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson. Esquire.”

flies forgotten like a dream at the opening day is adapted from Isaac Watts’s hymn “Our God, our Help in Ages past” (Watts, The Psalms of David [London, 1719], 230).

totus: “whole.” habeo: “have.” femina and mulier: “woman.” puella: “girl.” dico: “say; tell.” dono: “present; bestow.” nolo: “wish not to.” rogo: “beseech; ask.” voluntas: “wish; desire.”

1Manuscript: “thy.”

2Manuscript: “Marrks.”

3Preceding two words interlined.

Index Entries

  • banks; currency issued by search
  • children; attitudes toward search
  • Colvin, Richard; letters from search
  • Colvin, Richard; on children search
  • Colvin, Richard; on specie search
  • Colvin, Richard; on women search
  • cotton; manufactures from search
  • currency; metallic search
  • flax; manufactures from search
  • Fourth of July; celebrations search
  • manufacturing; expansion of search
  • Napoleon I, emperor of France; military instruction of search
  • plows; mentioned search
  • tea; imported search
  • United States; trade of search
  • Watts, Isaac; quoted search
  • women; opinions on search
  • wool; production of search