Third President of the United States, wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. Chaired the committee that presented draft to Congress and signed same. ALS, as President, in the third person "Tho. Jefferson" in the text, 1 p., oblong 8vo. (Washington), Dec. 6,1805. The text is an invitation to dinner to US Senator Dr. Samuel Latham Mitchill (1764-1831) "Tho. Jefferson requests the favour of Dr. Mitchill to dine with him on Monday the 9th instant, dinner will be on the table precisely at sun set Dec 6, 1805, The favour of an answer is asked." Docketed by Mitchill on integral leaf "Th Jefferson rec'd Decr 6 & answd affirmatively same day 1805. Company present Melimelli the Envoy from Tunis & his two Secretaries & Messrs Smith, Logan and (John Quincy) Adams of the Senate with Messrs Eppes, T&J Randolph & Nicholson of the H of R."

At the time of this letter U.S. merchant ships were increasingly attacked by pirates from the Barbary Coast of North Africa. The US refused to pay the North African rulers in return for a guarantee of protection. After 4 years of war Commodore John Rodgers negotiated a peace treaty, signed on June 4,1805. The best account of the actual dinner comes from the diary of John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), who was also a guest at the dinner mentioned in this invitation. On Dec 9, 1805 in his diary he writes, "Attended in Senate, where a voluminous communication of documents receive from the President was read... I dined at the President's in company with the Tunisian Ambassador and his two secretaries...dinner was to have been on the table precisely at sunset--it being in the midst of Ramadan, during which Turks fast while the sun is above the Horizon..." A significant piece of history, initiating negotiations for laying a foundation of peace with North Africa.

Beautifully matted in maroon and framed in ornate gilt frame, with an engraving of Jefferson. A very handsome piece. (#PVP1119)