Thomas Jefferson Papers

David Bailie Warden to Thomas Jefferson, 11 December 1810

From David Bailie Warden

Washington, 11 Decr 1810—

Sir,

I beg leave to inform you that the Attorney General is not yet arrived at Washington. Mr. Coles, to whom I delivered your packet for Mr Rodney, informs me, that he has lost all his furniture on board a vessel, destined for this city, which has been lately wrecked— I was obliged to return from Monticello, by Richmond, where I had the pleasure of meeting Messrs Coles and Cabell. I have been introduced to Mr. Giles, and other members of the Senate—Invitations to dinner from the President, mr. Gallatin, and other Gentlemen induce me to remain a few days longer— mr. Coles, mr. Burwell, Dr Mitchill and other friends will make me known to several Senators, and I fondly hope, that the President, thro’ your recommendation, will please to reinstate me in my former situation. It is said that Mr. Mc Crae does not expect to remain long at Paris—Mr. Russel himself informed me that he would not accept the Consulship which had been offered to him by General Armstrong. This being the case, General Smith and his friends may not feel inclined to oppose my nomination. It was impossible for me to do, or say more to General Armstrong in order to secure my continuance in office—when I wrote the replies to his accusation which you were pleased to read, I was already acquainted with the intended appointment of Mr. Mc Crae.

I inclose observations on Mr. Woods’ treatise by two able mathematicians of Paris, which I forgot to present to you when at Monticello—I shall have the pleasure of sending you some brochures from Baltimore—with respects to mr. and mrs. Randolph and family, I am, Sir, with grateful esteem and reverence,

your very obliged Servant,

David Bailie Warden

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson Esquire”; endorsed by TJ. Recorded in SJL as received 29 Dec. 1810. Enclosures not found.

During his visit to Monticello, Warden may have asked TJ to read an early version of his defense in his ongoing conflict with John Armstrong. For a later formulation, see note to Warden to TJ, 14 Apr. 1811. In his letter of 15 July 1810 TJ had asked Warden to distribute to European scientists copies of John Wood’s treatise on the earth’s rotation, for which see Wood to TJ, 26 Dec. 1809.

Index Entries

  • A New Theory of the Diurnal Rotation of The Earth (Wood) search
  • Armstrong, John; and D. B. Warden search
  • Burwell, William Armistead; mentioned search
  • Cabell, Joseph Carrington; mentioned search
  • Coles, Isaac A.; mentioned search
  • Gallatin, Albert; mentioned search
  • geophysics; J. Wood’s work on search
  • Giles, William Branch; mentioned search
  • Madison, James; mentioned search
  • McRae, Alexander; at Paris search
  • Mitchill, Samuel Latham; and Walden 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
  • Rodney, Caesar Augustus; furniture wrecked search
  • Russell, Jonathan; and D. B. Warden search
  • Smith, Samuel (of Maryland); and D. B. Warden search
  • Warden, David Bailie; and consular nomination search
  • Warden, David Bailie; and J. Armstrong search
  • Warden, David Bailie; letters from search
  • Wood, John (ca.1775–1822); A New Theory of the Diurnal Rotation of the Earth search