ALS signed “Th: Jefferson,” one page, 8 x 8.75, March 5, 1821. Handwritten letter from Monticello to "Dr. David Hosack," in full: "At the request of Mr. Coffee I formerly took the liberty of putting a letter to him under the protection of your cover, having occasion to make him again a remittance of 40.D. for a like object with the former, and not knowing certainly that he is at N. York, I take the same liberty again. the remittance being to be made by my correspondent in Richmond I pass this letter thro’ his hands that he may inclose in it the one he addresses to Mr. Coffee. I embrace with pleasure every occasion of assuring you of my great esteem & respect." Mounted, matted, and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 15 x 20.75. In very good to fine condition, with scattered light creasing and foxing, and short repaired tear to the left edge.
American physician, botanist, and educator, David Hosack (1769–1835) is best known as the doctor who tended to the fatal injuries of Alexander Hamilton after his duel with Aaron Burr in July 1804, and who had similarly tended to Hamilton's son Philip after his fatal 1801 duel with George Eacker. The "Mr. Coffee" that Jefferson mentions here is William John Coffee (1774–1846), an English sculptor commissioned to make busts of Jefferson and his family between 1818 and 1820. He was thereafter intermittently hired by Jefferson for various tasks: for example, he was employed to create classical architectural frieze ornaments in lead and plaster for the University of Virginia and for Jefferson's Bedford County retreat, Poplar Forest, and also made repairs to paintings in Jefferson's art collection.
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