To James Madison from William J. Coffee, 23 December 1819
From William J. Coffee
New York Decmr. 23 1819
Sir
I have taken the liberty of forwarding to Mr. J Cook1 to be Sent on to you the Models in terra Cotta, consisting of your Order. They are Shipped as ⅌ Bill of Lading & I hope they will arrive Safe. I must beg your goodness to Order that they May be Safely conveyed from the Vessel to you & then carefully unpacted. Sir I am with mch Respect & Esteem Your Obt Servt
William J. Coffee
RC (DLC).
1. James Cooke was a Fredericksburg merchant at “No. 1, Grocers’ Row” who supplied JM with household comestibles such as whiskey, oil, porter, oysters, snuff, and cheese, among other items (Virginia Herald, 5 Aug. 1820; A. Cooke to JM, 31 Jan. 1822, DLC).