Jefferson, Thomas

1 page (10 x 7 7/8 in.; 255 x 201 mm) on a leaf of laid paper, Monticello, 28 October 1799, to George Ruffin of Prince George County, Virginia (recipient's name from the press copy at Massachusetts Historical Society); a few light stains, small seal tear repair.

The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Oberg, 31: 225–26

1 page (10 x 7 7/8 in.; 255 x 201 mm) on a leaf of laid paper, Monticello, 28 October 1799, to George Ruffin of Prince George County, Virginia (recipient's name from the press copy at Massachusetts Historical Society); a few light stains, small seal tear repair.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Jefferson as archaeologist. Jefferson writes to Ruffin, a Virginia planter, to thank him for the gift of a recently discovered artifact. 

"Colo. Skipworth, in a late visit to me, delivered me in your name an antient piece of armour, which he informed me had been turned up by a plough in a field in your neighborhood. it appears to be the true cotte de mailles, or hauberk of antient times, & a very sufficient defence against the arrows of the Indian aborigines of our country, and was doubtless brought over for that purpose. ... I shall certainly prize 7 preserve it as a rare curiosity."

The letter then takes up a completely different topic: "I have lately received, from a mr Symonds in England, a letter from which the following is an extract. "I had, says he, a sister married about 20 years since to a mr Avery of Wiloby hall, Prince George county, up James river, Virginia. I have heard nothing of her now for more than 8. years, notwithstanding I have wrote one or two letters to her every year, & have made every other enquiry I can think of.'" Symonds's letter continued to ask Jefferson if he could look into the matter and tell him if his sister was living or dead, even though, as Jefferson confides to Ruffin, "Mr. Symonds in an entire stranger to me, having never before heard of him."

Nevertheless, Jefferson declares the request "an office of common humanity which we are all bound to render one another." But as he himself is not well acquainted with Prince George County, Jefferson turns Symonds's inquiry over to Ruffin: "I think myself fortunate in this occasion of interesting you for my correspondent, and solliciting from your goodness to procure for me the information he desires, & to enable me to answer his letter." In closing, Jefferson asks to be remembered to Ruffin's father, Edmund, "who was my fellow collegian" at William and Mary.

On 30 November, Ruffin replied that Symonds's sister had died in childbirth some five years earlier, but that her child, a son, survived and was well. Her husband, Billy H. Avery, Ruffin described as "a respectable citizen & I believe enjoys a comfortable mediocrity between the extremes of indigence & affluence."