From Thomas Jefferson to William H. Sargeant, 8 July 1786
To William H. Sargeant
Paris July 8. 1786.
Sir
I have been honoured with your favor of June 15. inclosing a letter to young Mr. Bannister, which I have forwarded to him at Bourdeaux where he is at present. My last letter from him is dated June 5. He said his health was then incertain, sometimes tolerably well, at others less so. I wrote his father on the 6th. of May last, and shall take care to inform him as often as I can of the state of his son’s health.—I inclose you a copy of Mr. Morris’s agreement with the farmer’s general on the subject of tobacco; being that to which the order of the king and council refers. It could not be printed in time to send out with the copies of the order, whence it may not have happened to come to your hands. I thank you kindly for your offer of bearing my letters to my friends in Virginia. I am unfortunately so engaged at this moment as to be unable to avail myself of it. Indeed it is not long since I have written to many of them. To such as enquire for me I will thank you to present my affectionate regard, which be pleased to accept of yourself also from Sir Your most obedient humble servt.,
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC). At foot of text TJ wrote “Constable,” and so endorsed PrC on verso. But the first was written in his left hand and therefore not before Oct. (see TJ to Maria Cosway, 5 Oct. 1786, note). Entry in SJL under this date contains no record of a letter to Constable, but there is one for a letter to Sargeant, sent “by Mr. Randall,” who was going to London. Enclosure: Printed copy of Robert Morris’ contract with the farmers-general (see enclosure to TJ to Jay, 27 May 1786).