Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Jefferson’s Memorandum for Nathaniel Colley, 16 November 1789

Jefferson’s Memorandum for Nathaniel Colley

on board the Clermont Nov. 16. 1789.

Mem. for Capt. Colly to have made in London for Th:J.

A Mahogany table with sliding leaves exactly on the plan of that of the ship Clermont, the legs of the same form, viz. square, tapered and fluted. The bed of the table when the leaves are shut is to be 2 f. 6 In. by 3 f. Each leaf to be 12 I. by 3 f. so that when both leaves are drawn out the table is 4 f. 6 by 3 f.

Another do. of the same form, the bed 20. by 24 I. the leaves 8 I. by 24 I. each so that when drawn out the table is 3 f. by 2 f.

Each table to have one drawer only, as large as the frame will admit. The top and legs to be of solid mahogany. The workman will decide whether best to have the cross peices at the end or not. The fineness of the mahogany to be more1 attended to than the price. The French spotted mahogany is the handsomest if to be had.

When done, the small table to be put into the large one, both wrapped up in green bays, put into a tight box and that tied over with oil cloth.2

To be shipped to Havre or Rouen. If to Havre, the Direction on the box must be ‘A Monsr. la Motte negt. au Havre pour M. Jefferson M.P. &c.’ If to Rouen it must be directed ‘Monsr. Garvey &c.’

Mr. D.P. [Daniel Parker] who when in London lodges at No. 2 Leicester Square will be so good as to pay the workman’s bill for me on shewing him this, and to undertake to have them shipped to Havre or Rouen. If he is not in London Dr. B———[Bancroft] Charlotte Street will have the goodness to do it, assured that either his or Mr. P’s bill on me shall be paid on sight at Paris where I shall arrive about the end of April or beginning of May. Or they may draw immediately on Mr. Short, Charge &c. duly informing him it is at my request, and he will pay it at sight.

Apply of preference to S. Tilt cabinet maker No. 94 Cheapside some of whose work I saw in the hands of Capt. Cutting so well done that I propose to apply to him hereafter for whatever I may want in the mahogany way.

Th: J.

Dft (MHi) endorsed: “Colley Nathaniel. Copy of memm. given him”; on verso TJ made—perhaps at a much later date—copious notes of titles of books, chiefly classical and early Americana, arranging them in classes and (after the arrangement was completed) numbering them in the desired sequence: this was probably a work-sheet for the catalogue of his library and will be utilized in the Second Series of this edition. PrC of a Dupl (MHi); the original of this was enclosed in TJ to Colley, 22 Aug. 1790 (see note 2, below).

1This word interlined in substitution for “most particularly,” deleted.

2From this point on PrC of Dupl reads: “To be shipped from London to Philadelphia directly, or if Capt. Colle brings them himself to any port of the United States they can be shipped to me at Philadelphia.—Th: Jefferson. Aug. 22. 1790. Duplicate of Note given on board the Claremont Nov. 16. 1789.”

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