To Thomas Jefferson from John Bulkeley & Son, 20 February 1793
From John Bulkeley & Son
Lisbon 20 Febry 1793
Sir
The foregoing is Copy of what we had the honour of writing you 7th. Uto. by the Aurora Captn. O’Brien, via Philadelphia, and on the 26 Do. we received via London, a Triplicate Copy of your Esteemd favour 11 Octr. L. Y., and agreeable to your directions, we have ship’d the 3 Pipes best Termo Wine cased, on board the Ship Four Friends Capn. Joseph Volans, bound to Norfolk, consignd to Mr. James Brown Mercht. in Richmond, and recommend to Messrs. Wm. & Jas. Douglas of Norfolk, to forward them to Richmond by a safe conveyance, which no doubt will be complied with. For their cost we debit you Rs. 222$000 as ⅌ note at foot, and we flatter ourselves that the quality will prove to your Entire satisfaction, being of the vintage 88., and when you please to renew the like orders, we will be carefull to send of the very best quality. We remain with perfect regard & Esteem Sir Your most obedt. & very Hble. Serts.
John Bulkeley & Son
London 7½ ⅌ $1
 |
3. Pipes Lisbon Wine vintage 88—@ 70 $ ⅌ Pipe | 210$000 |
| 3 Cases | 12$000 | |
| 222$000 Rs. |
RC (MHi); subjoined to Tr of the firm’s letter to TJ of 7 Jan. 1793; with notation by TJ (see note 1 below); endorsed by TJ as received 12 Apr. 1793 but recorded in SJL as received 17 Apr. 1793.
Throughout this letter the Editors have used the dollar sign to represent the cifrão, the Portuguese symbol for milréis. This conventional notation of Portuguese money is conveniently discussed in John J. McCusker, Money and Exchange in Europe and America, 1600–1775: A Handbook (Chapel Hill, 1978), 107; see also note to Bulkeley & Son to TJ, 7 Jan. 1793, where TJ’s missing favour of 11 Octr. L. Y. was first acknowledged. Two additional letters from Bulkeley & Son to TJ of 22 and 28 Feb. 1793, recorded in SJL as received 14 Apr. 1793, have not been found.
1. Below this line TJ wrote: “1793. Apr. 21. to Curson for freight 3. pipes wine 12.D. James Brown frt. from Baltimore and duties.”