To Thomas Jefferson from Nathaniel Colley, 9 March 1791
From Nathaniel Colley
Norfolk March 9th. 1791
Dear Sir
I have Received your favour of the 9th. Feby with an Enclosd note of 70 Dollars which is Considerable above the Amount of the Account I sent to you as I never meant to Charge freight or Commission: and I Earnestly Entreat youll never think you give any trouble in Collecting any thing of the sort that you may want at any future time as I shall be always happy to be honourd with your Commands in that Respect or any other. I am a little surprisd to find that Captn. Anderson had not Arrivd when you Wrote me as he was to sail in a day or two after the Date of my Letter. I dont Recollect Whether I sent you a bill of Loading in the letter you have Received or by the Captain. But I have one with me Which I can send if any Accident has happend to the Vessel or the Captain Neglected to Call on you. I expect to sail tomorrow for Falmouth and orders if the Wether permits. I shall Esteem it a favour if youll please to Drop me a few lines at my Return to inform me Wheather you have Received the Tables and how they will answer. I am Dear Sir with Esteem your Most Obdt Hb St.,
Nathl Colley
RC (MHi); endorsed by TJ as received 22 Mch. 1791 and so recorded in SJL.
When TJ did not respond to the above, Colley wrote again from City Point, just after his arrival from Nantes, saying that he had not yet heard whether the tables had arrived, that he had one of the triplicate bills of lading given him by Captain Atcheson Anderson, and that he would like TJ to send him “a few Lines … to the care of John Grayson at Petersburg or Thos. Ritson at Norfolk” (Colley to TJ, 21 July 1791; RC in MHi, endorsed by TJ as received 28 July 1791 and so recorded in SJL). TJ immediately responded: “Dear Captain—I received three days ago your favor of the 21st. The tables had come to hand in due time and in good order. I congratulate you on your safe return to Virginia and hope your returns will ever be safe. Having nothing new worth communication, I have only to add assurances of the esteem of Dr. Sir Your very humble servt, Th: Jefferson” (TJ to Colley, 31 July 1791; PrC in MHi).