From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr., 27 November 1791
To Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr.
Philadelphia Nov. 27. 1791.
Dear Sir
By a letter recieved from Prince, I find that he has forwarded to the care of Mr. Brown in Richmond 4. bundles of trees for me, numbered as on the next leaf. I have written to Mr. Brown to forward them, and with this may get in time for you to understand the numbers before you plant them.—I have heard nothing of our post yet, tho’ I presume it began on the 15th. inst. as Mr. Davies notified me.—Capt. Stratton is at length arrived here. I have not yet seen him. We shall now be able to send on the things for the house-servants.—We have had very cold weather here. The thermometer was yesterday morning at 27. and had been as low a few days before. In fact the winter set in on the 17th. of October with the North East storm thro’ which we came, and has continued with now and then a mild day. I have engaged Mr. Rittenhouse to furnish Freneau with his meteorological observations, once a week, so you will have in every other paper what is to be relied on in that way. My love to my dear Martha, and am with sincere affection Dear Sir your friend & servt,
Th: Jefferson
RC (DLC); addressed: “Thos. M. Randolph junr. Monticello.” Enclosure: TJ’s list of the contents of the four bundles, practically identical to that in William Prince to TJ, 8 Nov. 1791, except TJ omitted the prices and referred to item 10 as “Moor park” apricots and item 29, “Monthly” trees, as “Monthly honey suckle.” TJ also omitted item 33 from his list. PrC (MHi); letter only.
Augustine Davis failed to inform TJ whether the post contract and bond were executed by 15 Nov. as he expected them to be when he wrote on 17 Oct. 1791.