I obey at the same time my own wishes
to oblige the writer. Mazzei is at this time ill, but not in danger. I
am impatient to receive further letters from you, which may assure me of
the solidity of your recovery, being, with great anxiety for your health
and happiness, Dear Sir, your affectionate friend and servant,
Th: Jefferson.
[The annexed is here inserted in the Author's MS. To whom
addressed, does not appear.]
The Minister Plenipotentiary for the United States of America finds
himself under the necessity of declining to authenticate writings
destined to be sent to the United States, for this main reason, that
such authentication is not legal evidence there. After a reason so
sufficient, it seems superfluous to add, that, were his authentication
admissible in the courts of the United States, he could never give it to
any seal or signature, which had not been put in his presence; that he
could never certify a copy, unless both that and the original were in a
hand-writing legible to him, and had been compared together by him,
word by word: that so numerous are the writings presented, that their
authentication alone would occupy the greater part of his time, and,
withdrawing him from his proper duties, would change the nature of his
office to that of a notary.
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