To Thomas Jefferson from John Davis, 13 March 1805
From John Davis
Philadelphia, March 13, 1805.
Sir
Amidst the important multiplied engagements that necessarily employ your thoughts, I congratulate myself with the most lively satisfaction that you could spare one moment to my importunity for the patronage of your name to my Indian Tale. It is now in the press, a plate is engraving for it, & it will be published with every allurement of paper & type. That it may deserve to be in the hands of those who have imagination to be awakened, & sensibility to be moved, has been my study.
I am, Sir, with great respect, Your much obliged, & most obedient humble Servant,
John Davis.
RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 21 Mch. and so recorded in SJL.
patronage of your name: Davis cited TJ’s subscription in the front matter of Captain Smith and Princess Pocahontas. He wrote: “The author is proud to subjoin the suffrage of the President of the United States of America,” and he printed a slightly altered version of TJ’s letter of 8 Mch. Davis also used TJ’s endorsement to promote his novel later in the year (Captain Smith and Princess Pocahontas, An Indian Tale [Philadelphia, 1805], unnumbered page of testimonies; The First Settlers of Virginia, An Historical Novel [New York, 1805], vii).