To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 24 August 1802
From Albert Gallatin
Washington Aug. 24. 1802
Dear Sir
I duly received your letter of the 20th & will attend to its contents. I have not had less business to do since I have been in office, & have nothing to communicate. Your answer to my last, & your determination in respect to Barbary I am waiting for, with some anxiety, as, although I am yet well, the weather is intensely hot & bilious complaints begin to appear. Gen. Dearborn left the city this morning; he had been unwell for several days; my first clerk is expected daily; the next is sick & unable to attend; & so is Miller the comr. of the revenue; the Auditor was complaining & is gone. I intend going at once to New York for my family & to be here the latter end of September. Will you be good enough to direct your letters to me there. Whilst there, I will think of whatever, within the Treasury department, may be necessary for the meeting of Congress, whether for information or to occupy their deliberations. I presume that they will have little or nothing to do, and think the less for the present the better. Mr Page certainly declines; but Heath, on retiring, has appointed a deputy who can legally act until a successor takes possession. I know not Dr. Shore’s christian name, and it is of some importance to ascertain whether he means to accept.
I am with attachment & respect Your obedt. Servt.
Albert Gallatin
RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received from the Treasury Department on 26 Aug. and “Page. Heath. Shore” and so recorded in SJL.
YOUR ANSWER: see TJ to Gallatin, 23 Aug. For the Treasury secretary’s LAST letter on the BARBARY affair, see Gallatin to TJ, 20 Aug.
MY FIRST CLERK: Edward Jones recovered from his illness and returned to Washington by 13 Sep. NEXT IS SICK: Daniel Sheldon continued unwell and left to visit his family in Connecticut as soon as Jones resumed his duties ( , 7:510, 534, 537, 587; , 328).
On 13 Sep., the Norfolk Commercial Register carried the news that John PAGE had declined the appointment as collector at Petersburg. Four days later it noted John Shore’s appointment.