To Thomas Jefferson from James Currie, 27 July 1803
From James Currie
Richmond 27th. July 1803
Dear Sir,
I have received Your Letter of the 29th Ulto. covering your Bond and find upon Accurate examination of my Books and Papers that your Statement is Correct and perfectly agreeable to me—have therefore taken the liberty of inclosing to you your former Bond, the receipt taken from Pickett for Braxton and your Note of Fifty pounds, which I thought proper to return as the new Bond settles all matters between us—Altho’ I have been Confined three weeks with a violent fit of the Gout and other Complaints I still promise myself the pleasure of visiting you at Monticello during your absence from the Seat of Government—Accept my most Sincere wishes for your health and Happiness and believe me always with the most sincere attachment—
Your very Respectfull & Most Hble Servt.
James Currie
RC (MHi); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr.”; endorsed by TJ as received 29 July and so recorded in SJL.
TJ’s letter of the 29th of June was recorded in SJL but has not been found. In his financial memoranda, however, TJ recorded on 28 June: “Made a statement of my debt to Dr. Currie and inclosed him a new bond for £158–19 principal and int. at 6. pr. cent from 1797. May 1. till paid. The old bond to be cancelled” (, 2:1104). TJ’s letter was in apparent response to a note of 24 June from Currie, recorded in SJL as received 29 June but not found. TJ owed Currie for medical services and issued an initial bond in September 1783 for £215–17–6, but did not close out his debt until June 1808, after Currie’s death (, 2:1226; Vol. 6:340-1).
receipt taken from pickett: possibly the cancellation of a payment for Carter braxton, which TJ had long ago asked Currie to take in. The transaction may have gone through Richmond merchant George Pickett (, 2:809; Vol. 18:488). note of fifty pounds: Currie may have meant a $50 payment for legal services that TJ had made on Currie’s behalf (see Vol. 39:435).