“ nefarious speculation. I thank you sincerely for the promissed copy of the pamphlet . . .”
To Tazewell Jefferson wrote: “
M
r. Livingston’s suit having gone off on the plea to the jurisdiction, it’s foundation remains of course unexplained to the
public. I therefore concluded to make it public thro’ the ordinary channel of the press. an earlier expectation of recieving
the pamphlets, & the desire of sending you one, has delayed, from post to post, my sooner acknoleging the reciept of your
letter informing me of the dismission, and the more essential acknolegement of your valuable aid in it, and praying your acceptance
of the remuneration I now inclose. I have learnt, from all quarters that your argument was among the ablest ever delivered
before that court. considering the infinite trouble which the question of right to the Batture, & the immense volume of evidence
to be taken in New Orleans, would have given to my counsel and myself, I am well satisfied to be relieved from it, altho’
I had had a strong desire that the public should have been satisfied by a trial on the merits, & the abler discussion of them
by my counsel . . .
"
P. S. altho’ the pamphlets have been some weeks at Freds(
~b
)
g, and expected by every stage, I am still disappointed in recieving them. I detain my letter therefore no longer, but will
inclose one separately on it’s arrival.
”
On April 19 Jefferson started distributing the copies he had received from Sargeant. At a later date he made a list of the recipients and the dates on which he had forwarded their copies, as follows:
The Proceedings of the Gov(
~m
)
t on the Intrusion of E. Livingston. sent to the following persons.
|
Apr. 19.
|
George Hay
|
|
William Wirt
|
|
Littleton W. Tazewell
|
|
Governor Barbour
|
|
Judge Tyler
|
|
John Wickham
|
|
Edm. Randolph
|
|
Norborne Nicholas
|
|
Thomas Ritchie
|
|
the President
|
|
Secretary of State
|
|
of the Treasury
|
|
of War
|
|
of the Navy
|
|
the Atty General
|
|
Postmaster Gen
l.
|
|
Caesar A. Rodney
|
|
20.
|
Rob. Smith.
|
|
W
m. Duane
|
|
Gen
l. Dearborne
|
|
John Adams
|
|
John Langdon
|
|
Rob. R. Livingston
|
|
D
r. Rush.
|
|
Judge Tucker
|
|
Gov
r. Gerry
|
|
Gov
r. Tomkins
|
|
Gen
l. Armstrong
|
|
Judge Duvall.
|
|
Gov
r. Claiborne
|
|
James Mather
|
|
Moreau de Lislet
|
|
Thiery
|
|
Derbigny
|
|
Bolling Robertson
|
|
Benjamin Morgan
|
|
D
r. Samuel Brown
|
|
21.
|
Joseph Cabell
|
|
Judge Cabell
|
|
Judge Stuart
|
|
Judge Johnston
|
|
Judge Homes
|
|
J. F. Mercer
|
|
J. T. Mason
|
|
Gov
r. Homes
|
|
Howard
|
|
Harrison
|
|
John Brown--K
y.
|
|
Apr. 23.
|
A. J. Dallas.
|
|
Levi Lincoln
|
|
Charles Pinckney
|
|
D
r. Walter Jones
|
|
W
m. Rives
|
|
J. W. Eppes
|
|
25.
|
James Maury
|
|
May 10.
|
Mrs Trist
|
|
Charles Clay
|
|
21.
|
Wilson C. Nicholas
|
|
June 6.
|
Ingersol Charles J.
|
|
11.
|
Jackson Gen
l. John G.
|
|
23.
|
Taylor J.
|
|
Th. J. Randolph
|
|
T. M. Randolph
|
|
C. L. Bankhead
|
|
Peter Carr
|
|
Dabney Carr
|
|
Sam
l. Carr
|
The first three names are those of Jefferson’s three attorneys.
Tazewell acknowledged his copy on May 15: “. . . The manner in which this cause went off, coupled with the personal attack made upon you by M
r. Livingston, created a duty upon you to explain to the public (before whose bar you had been arraigned) the reasons and motives
of your conduct in this transaction. And the mode you have adopted to make this explanation is certainly a very proper one,
especially as it is that which he himself selected-- Your publication will I think convince all who will read and attentively
examine it of the propriety of your conduct, and ”
