Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Peter Derieux to Thomas Jefferson, 11 May 1812

From Peter Derieux

Raleigh. N.C. ce 11. May 1812.

Monsieur

Ayant enfin reussi a me procurer de la Graine et du plan d’Estragon, je m’empresse a vous faire part de l’un et de l’autre, dans l’espoir que vous L’accepterés avec plaisir; je me ressouviens toujours avec reconnaissance de la peine que vous prites autrefois pour m’en procurer, comme de la satisfaction que vous paroissiés eprouver Lorsque vous pouvies contribuer a augmenter ma petitte collection de plantes curieuses. L’ami qui ma envoyé L’Estragon y a ajouté quelques informations sur son utilité, dont je prends La Liberté de Vous envoyer cy inclus copie.

quoique jaye de mon mieux assujetté ses racines avec un peu de coton Mouillé, je crains que, sa pressure in the Mail, n’en detruise le Germe Végétatif; si cela arrivoit et que vous n’ayés pu reussir a faire lever sa graine qui demande dans le commencement Beaucoup d’ombre et de soins, et que vous voulliés bien m’indiquer quelqu’un a Richmond ou Petersburg sous le couvert de qui je pourois vous en adresser une plus grande plante Encaissée, je me ferai un vrai plaisir de vous l’envoyer par la Diligence.

Mrs Derieux vous prie de permettre quelle joigne ici ses assurances de respect, & ceux avec les quels J’ai L’honneur d’être

Monsieur Votre trés humble et très obeisst Sert

P. Derieux

Editors’ Translation

Raleigh. N.C. 11. May 1812.

Sir

Having succeeded at last in getting tarragon seed and a seedling, I eagerly convey both to you, hoping that you will accept them with pleasure; I still remember with gratitude the trouble you took a long time ago to procure me some, as well as the satisfaction you seemed to feel when you were able to contribute to my small collection of curious plants. The friend who sent me the tarragon included with it some information on its uses, and I take the liberty of forwarding a copy of it.

Even though I have done my best to secure its roots with a little bit of wet cotton, I fear that the pressure in the mail might destroy the sprouts; if this were to happen and if you are unable to germinate the seed, which at the beginning needs a lot of shade and care, and if you would be kind enough to let me know of somebody in Richmond or Petersburg through whom I could forward you a larger plant in a wooden box, it would be my pleasure to send it to you by coach.

Mrs. Derieux requests the honor of joining her respects with mine, and I have the honor to be

Sir your most humble and very obedient servant

P. Derieux

RC (DLC); dateline at foot of text; endorsed by TJ as received 27 May 1812 and so recorded in SJL. Translation by Dr. Genevieve Moene.

In 1793 Derieux unsuccessfully sought tarragon (estragon) from TJ, who first obtained its roots from Bernard McMahon in 1806 (PTJ description begins Julian P. Boyd, Charles T. Cullen, John Catanzariti, Barbara B. Oberg, and others, eds., The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, 1950– , 34 vols. description ends , 25:306–7, 346–7; TJ to McMahon, 25 Apr. 1806, and McMahon to TJ, 30 Apr. 1806 [DLC]).

Index Entries

  • Derieux, Maria Margherita Martin (Peter Derieux’s wife); sends greetings to TJ search
  • Derieux, Peter (Justin Pierre Plumard); letters from search
  • Derieux, Peter (Justin Pierre Plumard); sends tarragon to TJ search
  • food; tarragon search
  • French language; letters in, from; P. Derieux search
  • McMahon, Bernard; sends plants to TJ search
  • tarragon; from P. Derieux search