To Thomas Jefferson from George Jefferson, 9 May 1805
From George Jefferson
Richmond 9th. May 1805
Dear Sir
In compliance with your direction I have for some days past been endeavouring to make sale of your Tobacco, but as yet have not been able to effect one. Mr. Rutherfoord who made the offer of 40/. at 120 days has made up his quantity, or else he says he would have taken it. I yet hope to obtain this price on a shorter credit.
Not having met with a Vessel for Washington, I have sent your hams (9 dozen in 3 Rum Hhds) to Norfolk, to be forwarded from thence by the first opportunity.—I inclose you Mr. Macon’s letter, which gives an account of his mode of preserving them.—
I shall leave Town in a day or two, and shall be absent for several weeks, during which time Mr. Gibson will as usual, with pleasure attend to any of your commands with which we may be favor’d.
I am Dear Sir Yr. Very humble servt.
Geo. Jefferson
RC (MHi); at foot of text: “Thos. Jefferson esqr.”; endorsed by TJ as received 12 May and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: William Macon to George Jefferson, 9 Apr., discussing shipment of nine dozen “bacon hams” that have been “rubed over with hiccory ashes” and packed in hogsheads and 10 more hams packed separately; Macon thinks the bacon “very fine”; he has never prevented “an insect called a Skipper” that is “never troublesome to Indifferent bacon” but breeds “only in the best”; to manage the problem, Macon hangs the hams in a dry house and after June inspects them every other week; he destroys portions with “any appearance of the Skipper” and cures those hams first; “by this manner I never lose any” (RC in same).