From Thomas Jefferson to Henry Ingle, 6 November 1807
Washington Nov. 6. 07
Sir
The very great pressure of business for some time before and after the meeting of Congress, obliging me to suspend nearly all correspondence, I have not till this day been able to reach your letter notifying me of the obliging offer of the use of a pew in the new Protestant Episcopal church near the Navy yard on the part of the vestry of Washington parish. I pray you to convey to them my thanks for this mark of attention, and to assure them that it would have been extremely pleasing to me to have continued a member of their congregation & to have availed myself of their kind offer, had the distance of the new building permitted it. this single circumstance obliging me to decline it, I take the liberty of mentioning it to you, that the pew may not remain unoccupied. I beg you to assure them of my great respect, and I salute yourself personally with great esteem.
Th: Jefferson
CSmH: Papers of Thomas Jefferson.