Autographs
Thomas Jefferson Autograph Letter Regarding His Debts
THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826). Third President of the United States(1801-1809), an 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 at Paris (May 1785) as United States Minister to France.
May 17, 1789-Dated Federal Period, Autograph Letter Signed, “Th: Jefferson,”as the United States Minister to France, 2 pages, measuring 7.25” x 9.25” with Integral Address Leaf, at Paris, Choice Extremely Fine. This Letter is written to William Jones, the elder partner of the English firm of “Farrel & Jones,” Tobacco Merchants of Bristol, England. Writing from Paris, Jefferson discusses a proposition in which he may pay off his debt. Remnant of its red wax seal remains upon the address leaf, with a small torn area opposide from when openned. The address leaf is also written completely in Jefferson's own hand, with various postal markings present, separated from the letter page, with Docket reading: “Paris 17th May 1789 - Thos. Jefferson”. Here, Thomas Jefferson writes, in full:

“Paris May 17, 1789 --- Sir ---

I have now to acknolege {sic) the receipt of your favor of Octob. 20 and Dec. 20 my proposition (referred to in your letter of Octob. 20) was to fix times of paiment [sic] for my part of Mr. [John] Wayle's debt on his private account, and that these paiments {sic) of my third should discharge me & my property of all responsibility for the remaining two thirds. Without having acceded to my propositions you propose that I should commence the paiments {sic), but I informed you (when I first wrote to you on the subject) that I owed another debt of smaller amount to Kippen & co. that I had made to them propositions like those I made to you, and that if both of you acceded, the profits of my estate should be divided between you in proportion to your debts. They acceded immediately. It is natural then that I should prefer making whatever paiments {sic] I can to them, because I know on what conditions I pay. The moment you think proper to conclude an arrangement with me, from that moment you shall begin to receive the paiments [sic] proposed. I believe I informed you that I had given orders to rent my whole estate for a sum certain, so that you & myself might see clearly what could be calculated on. Besides this, I gave orders the last year for the sale of some lands in Goochland & Cumberland, amounting to between two & three thousand pounds value. As the paiments {sic) for these lands will probably be by instalments [sic], these instalments [sic] will be divided between Kippen & co. & yourself if our arrangement shall be concluded; or if not concluded, they will be paid wholly to Kippen & co. to that being debarrassed of that debt I can be able to make you greater annual paiments [sic] whenever we shall have agreed finally. In the mean time my anxiety to get these two debts fixed and put under a certain & regular course of paiment [sic] is such, that I have asked of our government a leave of absence for six months from Paris, during which I shall go to Virginia. I have been for some time in daily & hourly expectation of receiving this permission. I suppose it will come by the English packet which sailed from N. York the 1st of April, & which I have not yet heard to be arrived. Within a week after receiving that permission I shall sail for Virginia; and be there two months and the principal object of this letter is to intreat you to give fall powers to Mr. Hanson or any person you please to settle this matter. No endeavors shall be wanting on my part to have this done; and I am sure of corresponding dispositions on the part of Mr. Eppes & Mr. Shipworth. But in any event I hope you will authorize Mr. Hanson to conclude with me separately according to my original proposition. Your letters to him if they go off immediately on your receiving this may arrive in Virginia as soon as I shall. I am Sir with very great esteem your most obedt. Humble servt. -- (Signed) Th: Jefferson”.

Thomas Jefferson lived in debt throughout a majority of his life. In addition to his own, he had inherited a huge debt from his father-in-law upon his death in 1774. He was very wealthy in land and slaves, but farming was unreliable. Despite his wealth, Jefferson was ill-equipped to manage his finances. He always lived well beyond his means, spending vast amounts of money on material goods. Jefferson was himself a creditor; but repayment on his loans were unreliable and he often had to take a loss. After his death, his debt was estimated by his grandson and executor of his estate, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, to have been upwards of $107,000 which was a staggering amount of money in the early nineteenth century! This Letter is very nicely penned in deep brown upon very clean, high quality period watermarked laid paper. His signature at its conclusion is very bold and sharp, measuring nearly 2” long.