To John Moody
The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 29: 1 March
1796 to 31 December 1797
(Princeton University Press, 2002), 428-9
Philadelphia June 13 97
Sir, I might sooner have acknoleged the receipt of your favor
of May 15. but I could not sooner have done it with any thing satisfactory
on the subject it concerned. The first [offering?] of the session of Congress
was rather [inau]spicious to those who consider war as among the greatest
calamities to our country. Private conversation, public discussion, and
thorough calculation, aided by the events of Europe, have nearly brought
every one to the same sentiment, not only to wish for a continuance of
peace, but to let no false sense of honor lead us to take a threatening
attitude, which to a nation prompt in it's passions [and] flushed with
victory might produce a blow from them. I rather believe that Congress
will think it best to do little or nothing for the present to give fair
play to the negociation proposed, and in the mean time lie on their oars
till their next meeting in November. Still however both English and French
spoliations continue in a high degree. Perhaps the prospects in Europe
may deaden the [activity] of the former, and call home all their resources,
but I see nothing to check the depredations of the French but the natural
effect they begin to produce of starving themselves by deterring us from
venturing to sea with provisions. This is the best general view I am able
to give you of the probable course of things for the summer so far as
they may be interesting to commerce.—The liberties which the presses
take in mutilating whatever they can get hold of, obliges me to request
every gentleman to whom I write to take care that nothing from me may
be put within their power. I am Sir Your very humble servt
Th: Jefferson
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Press Copy (Library of Congress); badly faded; at foot of text: “Mr. John Moody Richmd.”
John Moody (1746-1826), a Richmond merchant with the firm of Moody & Price in the late 1790s, was a Revolutionary War veteran with Republican sympathies. He unsuccessfully sought several patronage positions including that of Richmond postmaster in 1802 and a diplomatic post during the last months of the Monroe administration (Moody to TJ, 1 Dec. 1824 and 31 Jan. 1825; MB, 2: 989; Madison, Papers, 17: 198-9n; Madison, Papers: Sec. of State Ser., 2: 450; VMHB, 35 [1927], 448; Richmond Enquirer, 3 Oct. 1826).
Moody's FAVOR of 15 May 1797, recorded in SJL as received five days later, has not been found. Letters from Moody to TJ of 31 Aug. 1796, 31 Dec. 1797, and 26 Jan. 1799, recorded in SJL as received 3 Sep. 1796, 9 Jan. 1798, and 3 Feb. 1799, respectively, are also missing. SJL also records a letter from TJ to Moody & Price, 21 Jan. 1797, which has not been found.