To Thomas Jefferson from Van Staphorst & Hubbard, 8 September 1792
From Van Staphorst & Hubbard
Amsterdam 8 September 1792.
Sir
Your ever esteemed favor of 9 June, has been forwarded to us thro’ the Commissioners of the Federal City with a Letter addressed by them to Mr. Herm. Hend. Damen, relative to a number of German labouring People, Tradesmen &c. they wish to have dispatched to America.
We take the liberty to enclose open for Your Government, our answer to the Commissioners, begging You to transmit it to them, assuring You that we shall ever be happy in evincing our Sincere desire to comply with Your wishes and Recommendations all in our Power. We are respectfully Sir! Your most obedient humble Servants
N & J. Van Staphorst & Hubbard
RC (DNA: RG 59, Accounting Records, Letters from Amsterdam Bankers); at foot of text: “Thos. Jefferson Esqr.”; endorsed by TJ as received 13 Nov. 1792 and so recorded in SJL.
Enclosing TJ’s letter of introduction of 9 June 1792, the Commissioners had written on 4 July to Van Staphorst & Hubbard, forwarding a letter for Hermen Hend Damen that solicited his assistance in securing the emigration of German laborers for work in the Federal District. The bankers’ answer to the commissioners, written at Hermen Hend Damen’s request, expressed pessimism about the enterprise (Commissioners to Van Staphorst & Hubbard, and Commissioners to Hend Damen, both 4 July 1792, DNA: RG 42, DCLB; Van Staphorst & Hubbard to Commissioners, 8 Sep. 1792, DNA: RG 42, PBG).