Autographs
Thomas Jefferson Weighs in on the Case of General Ira Allen the Founder of Vermont and Brother of Ethan Allen
THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826). Third President of the United States (1801-1809), American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776). He served in the Continental Congress representing Virginia, and then served as a wartime Governor of Virginia (1779–1781), served as a Diplomat, stationed in Paris, in May 1785 he became the United States Minister to France.
August 27, 1808-Dated, Outstanding Content Autograph Letter Signed, “Th: Jefferson” as President, at Monticello, 1 page, measuring 7” x 7”, Choice Very Fine. This Letter is written to Caesar A. Rodney, then serving as Attorney General in Jefferson’s Cabinet (1807-1811), regarding two important British Admiralty cases then facing his administration: that of General Ira Allen with the British government, and Marc Mouesan, a French national who had recently been imprisoned in the U.S. for “Piracy.” This Letter is beautifully penned completely by Jefferson’s hand, written in rich brown upon very clean period wove paper. Here, Thomas Jefferson pens, in full:

“Monticello Aug. 27. 08. --- Dear Sir ----

Your favor of the 13th is received. I see no reason against giving your opinion, in favor of General Allen, to him to be used with the British government. The only doubt I ever entertained on it was that which you mention respecting his bail, and I have not yet seen my way out of that. I inclose you the letter of a M. Mouesan, whose case seems to be as hard a one as I have known. I wish you to open a correspondence with the district attorney of Maryland, get him to do for Mouesan whatever he can and to state the truth of the case, as it appeared to him, & transmit it to us while it is fresh in his memory, as I have little doubt it will become a case between government & government. We have not received one interesting word from Genl. [John] Armstrong [then minister to France] or Mr. [William] Pinckney [then in London conducting negotiations with Great Britain regarding the U.S. embargo and British naval abuses in the Atlantic] since our separation. I salute you with affection & respect, --- (Signed) Th: Jefferson”. Noted at bottom left: “Mr. Rodney”.

Caesar Augustus Rodney (1772-1824) was an American Lawyer and Politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a Member of the Democratic-Republican Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as well as a U.S. Representative from Delaware, U.S. Senator from Delaware, as U.S. Attorney General, and later as U.S. Minister to Argentina. On January 20, 1807, President Thomas Jefferson named Rodney his U.S. Attorney General. He served in that office for the remainder of Jefferson's term, and for nearly three years in President James Madison's first term. As Attorney General, Rodney participated as a member of the prosecution during the second treason trial of former Vice-President Aaron Burr.