To James Madison from Joseph Dougherty, 4 February 1819
From Joseph Dougherty
Washington City Feb 4th 1818 [1819]
Dear Sir
Jack Shorter1 has been for several months past much indisposed. His wife left him—and went to the western Country; he then became so dissipated that he was not capable of taking care of himself.
As in all other cases for 16 years past, he came to me to (as he expressed it) set him right, and to keep him from an untimely end.
With attention and perseverance, I succeeded in reforming him—but in a short time after, he got, (by some means) a lingring disease! which would have terminated his existance: long ere this had he not have made it known to me. By restricting him to regimen, and applying the proper medecine—I think he is now in a fair way to recover—and every prospect of a thorough reformation.
He thinks that all the expence ought not to fall on me.
Things, at the Court of St. Jameses (in Washington) wear a different aspect to what they did from the fourth of march 1801, to the fourth of March 1817. All men have not fortitude enough to bear puffing. Yours truly
Jos. Dougherty2
RC (DLC). Dated incorrectly; conjectured date based on JM to Dougherty, 16 Feb. 1819, and Dougherty to Thomas Jefferson, 10 Feb. 1819 (DLC: Jefferson Papers). Docketed by JM.
1. Jack Shorter was a hostler at the President’s House (Looney et al., Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series, 1:60 n.).
2. Joseph Dougherty (ca. 1774–1832) was an Irish-born Washington resident who served Jefferson as coachman and general factotum during the latter’s administration. JM employed Dougherty as his agent for a shipment of imported Merino sheep and other commercial transactions (ibid., 1:3 n.; , 2:335 and n. 2, 3:58 n. 1).