Wythe to Thomas Jefferson, 22 February 1800
George Wythe writes to Thomas Jefferson to say that the judge George Keith Taylor sent him a letter from Caleb Lownes, a founder of the advocacy group Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons that supports prisoners and formerly incarcerated individuals. Wythe was told by Taylor to give the letter to Governor Monroe and to write to Jefferson about the letter. Taylor asks Jefferson to assist John Marshall with the treaty with Lownes.
![](/wythepedia/images/8/86/WytheToJeffersonFebruary221800p1.jpg)
"Wythe to Thomas Jefferson, 22 February 1800, pg 1." Image from the Library of Congress, The Thomas Jefferson Papers.
Contents
Letter text
Page 1
George Keith Taylor sent to me a letter written to him by Caleb Lownes, in which that benevolent man consenteth to superintend our hospital for reception and amendment of sinners formerly doomed to the gibbet. i was desired to hand the letter to the governor, which hath been done, and to do what is mentioned in the subjoined extract from his letter to me: 'will you be so good as to write to m’ Jefferson, with whom I have no personal acquaintance, stating the circumstances of this business, and to request him, if he should be applied to by the executive, to assist general Marshall in bringing the treaty with m' Lownes be a proper issue?' to which is added: 'mr Jefferson, i am convinced, will feel pleasure in affording every aid in his power.' farewell, my best friend. 22 of february, 1800.
Page 2
![](/wythepedia/images/1/14/WytheToJeffersonFebruary221800p2.jpg)
"Wythe to Thomas Jefferson, 22 February 1800, pg 2." Image from the Library of Congress, The Thomas Jefferson Papers.
rec’d. Mar 3.