Joseph Delaplaine to Thomas Jefferson, 10 November 1817
From Joseph Delaplaine
New York November 10th 1817
Dear sir,
I had the pleasure, a few weeks ago, of sending to you, the second half volume of the Repository.
Being on a visit of business to New York, I know not whether you did me the honour of answering my letter.
I indulge a hope that I have given satisfaction to all your family & friends in the life that I have given of you. Certain it is, that I have been highly complimented by many persons for the impartiality that I have shown in the Repository which they say is clearly evinced in your biography.—
In this publication I have already expended nearly twenty thousand Dollars, and I should not be surprised, if it eventually results in my ruin.
Too many, put 4 dollars in one scale, & a number of the Repository in the other, at the very moment too, while they are acknowledging its elegance, & believe that with proper encouragement it may do credit to the country.—
I am now preparing the life of Mr Madison, & I will take it as a signal favour if you will furnish me with any thing you may have; either Manuscript—pamphlets, Newspapers &c &c. for although I shall receive a few things from different quarters, Yet I know that the principal records concerning him were burnt by the British at Washington.
Joseph Delaplaine
P.S. I shall be in Philadelphia in a week from this.
RC (DLC); dateline beneath signature; endorsed by TJ as received 23 Dec. 1817 and so recorded in SJL. RC (CSmH: JF-BA); address cover only; with PoC of TJ to Return J. Meigs, 14 Nov. 1819, on verso; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson Esqr Monticello Virginia”; franked; postmarked New York, 10 Nov.
Index Entries
- Delaplaine, Joseph; and biography of TJ search
- Delaplaine, Joseph; Delaplaine’s Repository search
- Delaplaine, Joseph; letters from search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Descriptions of; biographies of search
- Madison, James (1751–1836); biography of proposed search
- Repository of the Lives and Portraits of Distinguished Americans (J. Delaplaine) search
- War of1812; British destruction in Washington search
- Washington, D.C.; British destruction in search