Jefferson, Thomas, Third President, as Secretary of State

Autograph letter signed ("Th: Jefferson"), 4 pages (9 3/8 x 7 7/8 in.; 238 x 200 mm), New York, 27 May 1790, to William Short, Chargé d'Affaires of the United States at Paris; with nine-line postscript of 28 May 1790; light browning, scattered spotting, some small splits at folds (a few skillfully repaired).

The Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang Foundation (Sotheby Parke Bernet, 26 April 1978, lot 141)

Boyd, ed., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson 16:443-445

Autograph letter signed ("Th: Jefferson"), 4 pages (9 3/8 x 7 7/8 in.; 238 x 200 mm), New York, 27 May 1790, to William Short, Chargé d'Affaires of the United States at Paris; with nine-line postscript of 28 May 1790; light browning, scattered spotting, some small splits at folds (a few skillfully repaired).
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A lengthy and remarkably informative letter, written shortly after Jefferson's return from France to the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States at Paris.

Determination to accept the position of secretary of state. Jefferson begins his letter explaining a "periodical headach[e]" has been so debilitating for almost a month he has been unable "to attend to any business, or correspondence public or private." Finally over his migraine he writes a lengthy letter to Short updating him on a host of important matters. The Secretary of State writes of his new position: "I mentioned too the footing on which stood the proposal for my translation to a new office. It was not until the middle of February that a second letter from the President determined me to accept it: and I left Monticello in a fortnight after for New York."

Great concern over President Washington's illness. As Jefferson was battling with his month-long migraine, he explains: "In the mean time we have been very near losing the President. He was taken with peripneumony and on the 5th day he was pronounced by two of the three physicians present to be in the act of death. A successful effort of nature however relieved him and us. You cannot conceive the public alarm on this occasion. It proves how much depends on his life."

Jefferson then turns to matters related to Franco-American relations. "No successor at Paris is yet named: nor is any other mission on the carpet. I wish that while you stay you could obtain the free introduction of our salted provisions into France. Nothing would be so generally pleasing from the Chesepeak to New Hampshire. You will see in the newspapers a bill for increasing the tonnage of nations not in treaty with us to a given time and then prohibiting their transporting our commodities. This I think will pass. In the house of representatives there is a great majority for it. The hope I have held out of obtaining the introduction of our salted provisions into France, has been an efficacious incitement to this bill."

He also correctly predicts a new location for the nation's capitol: "A motion is now before the Senate for having  the next meeting of Congress at Philadelphia: and it is rather probable it will be carried in both houses. In that case, we shall remove to Philadelphia about the 1st of September. I wish it may be decided in time for me to give you notice so that Petit and my baggage may come directly to Philadelphia."

Small news. As Jefferson begins to bring his letter to a close, he counsels Short about "the loss of your money to Nomeny" and promises his correspondent he will convey all the "small news" he knows: "You will see by the Virginia papers that Colo[nel] Dudley Digges is dead: that Mr. Henry is elected contrary to what had been said of his retiring ... Madison of the College is coming here to be made a bishop."

Jefferson closes his letter with a daunting list of instructions for Short: "Send me if you please the records of the Bastile which they had begun to publish. I send by Mr. Crevecoeur my alarm watch to be mended. There is a paper of explanation with it. I send also by him about 1/2 doz. lb. of Balsamum Canadense for M. Deville, which be pleased to ask his acceptance of from me, and apologize from my sickness for my not writing. I wish, if it be practicable, that you could make all the paiments of rent for my house since my departure, enter into Mr. Grand's accounts, so that I may have no occasion to place them in mine at all.—Press the affairs of the Algerine redemption and write it's progress continually Present me to all my friends as if they were here named. ..."

A postscript revealing Jefferson's ambidexterity.  Dated 28 May, the postscript is of particular note not only for its content but how it was written.  The Secretary of State explains a package for this correspondent will be sailing tomorrow: "I doubt the possibility of sending you two copies of The Federalist bound. If it cannot be done now, it shall be by another opportunity." The essays written in support of the Constitution by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay had been collected in two volumes in 1788.

Jefferson ends the postscript with an important update: "The President is well enough to resume business." Jefferson wrote the present letter with his left hand but the postscript is written with his right hand. The two handwriting styles juxtaposed on a single page is nothing short of extraordinary.