To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Briggs, 16 August 1804
From Joseph Briggs
New-Orleans 16 August 1804
Sir,
His Excellency Governor Claiborne, in consequence of a severe attack of fever, common at this season and in this climate, which disables him from writing even his name, has directed me to state to you Sir, that, your letters of the 12th. and 17th. July to himself and the Superior of the Nuns of St. Ursula have been received.—The first will be attended to, the moment health permits, and the latter has been conveyed to the Superior.
I have the honor to be, Sir, with the highest respect Your most obdt. servt.
Jos: Briggs
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received 20 Sep. from “Claiborne Govr. (Briggs)” and so recorded in SJL.
Joseph Briggs (d. 1804) traveled to Mississippi Territory in 1803 with his elder brother, Isaac Briggs, who planned to employ him as a clerk. By June 1804, he had commenced work as William C. C. Claiborne’s private secretary, but his tenure was tragically brief. He died of “the prevailing fever” at New Orleans on 16 Sep. (, 2:195; Isaac Briggs to TJ, 17 May 1803; William C. C. Claiborne to TJ, 18 Sep. 1804).
of the 12th: no letter from TJ dated 12 July 1804 to either Briggs or William C. C. Claiborne has been found, nor was one recorded in SJL. Briggs apparently referred to TJ’s undated letter to the Ursuline Nuns of New Orleans, printed at 13 July, which was enclosed in his letter to Claiborne of 17 July, or to an unlocated cover letter.