To James Madison from Jesse V. Lewis, 15 December 1806
From Jesse V. Lewis
15th. Decr. 1806.
Hond. Sir,
The liberty I take in communicating these few lines you will please excuse. A few days ago I arrived in this city from New-York, and being professionally bred a printer I made Application to the different printing Offices at this place but have not met with that encouragement as I expected. I have been doing business in the Office of Messrs. Way,1 but he had engaged a sufficient number of Journeyman before my arrival and am at this time without employment, and feel very much at a loss: For several years I have been a Midshipman in the Navy, & have met with considerable losses in travelling from N. York to this City.2 From a former acquaintance I have had with you I am sorry to say that I am compelled to ask your friendly aid, having lost all of my best wardrobe, by some person unknown to me—soliciting you to give me some small assistance until I can get into business and if I can’t find some vacancy in this place shall be obliged to take my departure to Richmond among my connexions. I have not a doubt but you are acquainted with my relations in Virginia, & as soon as I get on I shall be enabled to return to you with many obligations. I am with great respect Hond. Sir your Obt. Servt.
Jesse V. Lewis
PS. please to excuse the paper.
RC (DLC).
1. Brothers Andrew and George Way owned the A&G Way bookselling and printing establishments in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Well known for printing government publications, they were also active in Washington social and political affairs (The Journal of the Senate Including the Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate: Thomas Jefferson Administration 1801–1809 [8 vols.; n.d.; reprint, Wilmington, Del., 1977], 2:iv).
2. For more on Lewis, see Lewis to JM, 28 Apr. 1800, PJM, 17:385 and n. 2.