To Thomas Jefferson from Josiah Smith, 8 September 1802
From Josiah Smith
Pembroke the 8th of September 1802
Dear Sir
I Received a Few days Since from the Boston Post office a Letter from you Dated the fourteenth of August with Surprise I Learnt therefrom you had Received a Letter from me dated the 19th of July Last Pased Respecting Commissioners of Bankruptcy1 you May Rest assured I never wrote the Letter you mentioned & that the writer of Said Letter was Unathorized by me & is Unknown to me & I Supose it was Intended as an Imposition upon you or me or Perhaps upon Both I have a wish the Said Letter may be Preserved that I may See the Contents & hand writing if I Should have health to arrive at the Seat of Government in Decbr. next I am Dear Sir with Esteem & affection your Friend
& Humble Servt.
Josiah Smith
PS I Shall in a Few days write a duplicate Least this Should Miscarry& to Prevent Impositions
JS
RC (MoSHi: Jefferson Papers); endorsed by TJ as received 23 Sep. and so recorded in SJL.
1. Smith here canceled “Dear Sir.”