Thomas Jefferson Papers

David Bailie Warden to Thomas Jefferson, 1 July 1811

From David Bailie Warden

Washington, 1 July, 1811—

Sir,

I beg leave to inform you, that the Essex is arrived, and that we expect to sail in the course of eight, or ten days. I received, from Mr. Graham, the note which you were pleased to write, with the inclosed letter for Paris—Since that time, I took the liberty of sending you a copy of my translation of Gregoires’ work on Blacks, in which he examines your opinions concerning their capacity for improvement. He proposes to write a Biographical-Dictionary of all Individuals who have distinguished themselves in the cause of freedom, of which he is still an enthusiast. He is obliged to keep this project a secret at Paris.

I have great hopes of being able to carry with me a copy of the commentary on1 Montesquieus’ spirit of laws, which you were pleased to mention to me— Mr. Duane recommended it to me in the highest terms—

I have amused myself lately in examining the productions and improvements of this district, and have some idea of writing a kind of Itinerarie, which may be useful to strangers who visit, or who propose to inhabit Washington. I do not find that there exists here any register of the temperature of the atmosphere, predominant winds & &—, and having been informed, that you paid great attention to this subject, you will oblige me much, if convenient, to furnish me a brief abstract of your observations on this subject—

I have lately seen chicoreé, Chicorium Intubus—in a luxuriant state, in a dry soil, at Masons’ island—I suspect that it might be cultivated, in this district, with great advantage, as food for cattle—

It is well ascertained that the Captain of the Melampus declared to that of the Tamahamak, which he carried to Halifax, that he had received positive orders to capture all american vessels bound to France—

Mr. Pinkney is arrived in this City. He proposes to bring his family here on a visit. Mr. Foster has taken lodgings at Crawfords’ Georgetown

I am, Sir, with respects to Mr & Mrs Randolph and family,—and with sincere thanks for the interest you have taken in my welfare

Your ever obliged & devoted Sevt

D B: Warden

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esquire”; endorsed by TJ as received 7 July 1811 and so recorded in SJL.

Both TJ’s note to Warden and the letter to Tadeusz Kosciuszko it covered are dated 12 May 1811. SJL records no covering letter from Warden sending TJ his translation of Henri Grégoire, An Enquiry concerning the Intellectual and Moral Faculties, and Literature of Negroes (Brooklyn, 1810; Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends no. 1399), and none has been found. Warden eventually published his itinerarie as A Chorographical and Statistical Description of the District of Columbia (Paris, 1816; Poor, Jefferson’s Library description begins Nathaniel P. Poor, Catalogue. President Jefferson’s Library [1829] description ends , 7 [no. 362]). On 21 June 1811 the British frigate Melampus captured the Tamaahmaah (tamahamak) off Sandy Hook, New Jersey. The British commander, Edward Hawker, reportedly stated that “his orders oblige him to send in all vessels bound to France” (New York Public Advertiser, 25 June 1811).

1Reworked from “of.”

Index Entries

  • A Chorographical and Statistical Description of the District of Columbia (D. B. Warden) search
  • An Enquiry concerning the Intellectual and Moral Faculties, and Literature of Negroes (Grégoire) search
  • chicory (succory) search
  • Commentary and Review of Montesquieu’s Spirit of Laws (Destutt de Tracy); TJ forwards to Destutt de Tracy search
  • Crawford’s Hotel (Georgetown) search
  • Destutt de Tracy, Antoine Louis Claude; Commentary and Review of Montesquieu’s Spirit of Laws search
  • Duane, William; and D. B. Warden search
  • Essex, USS search
  • Foster, Augustus John; British minister to U.S. search
  • Georgetown, D.C.; Crawford’s tavern search
  • Graham, John; TJ sends letters through search
  • Grégoire, Henri; An Enquiry concerning the Intellectual and Moral Faculties, and Literature of Negroes search
  • Hawker, Edward; captain of Melampus search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; works sent to search
  • Mason’s Island (Analostan Island; later Theodore Roosevelt Island); chicory grown on search
  • Melampus, HMS search
  • Pinkney, William; visits Washington search
  • Randolph, Martha Jefferson (Patsy; TJ’s daughter; Thomas Mann Randolph’s wife); greetings to search
  • Randolph, Thomas Mann (1768–1828) (TJ’s son-in-law; Martha Jefferson Randolph’s husband); greetings to search
  • State Department, U.S.; forwards letters search
  • Tamaahmaah (brig) search
  • Warden, David Bailie; A Chorographical and Statistical Description of the District of Columbia search
  • Warden, David Bailie; letters from search
  • Warden, David Bailie; sends publications to TJ search