George Wythe Randolph to Derby & Jackson
| Gentlemen | Richmond Nov: 27th 1857 |
I have received your letter of the 25th inst: addressed to “The Honble Geo: W Randolph” and requesting permission to publish in your circular my letter of July 3rd to Mr Randall. You probably mistake me for my elder brother who edited the correspondence of Mr Jefferson and was in public life at one time. I have never filled any public station and I am too little known for my recommendation to be the smallest value to you. It would only expose me among my acquaintances to the imputation of self conceit. I must therefore decline your request regretting that I cannot serve you. The letter without my name would probably be more serviceable to you than if my signature were attached. If you think so you are at liberty to use the letter. With my best wishes for the success of your enterprise I remain
The publishing firm of derby & jackson, with principal partners James Cephas Derby and Edwin Jackson, operated out of New York City, 1855–61 (Publishers’ Weekly, Vol. 42 [July–Dec., 1892]: 559–60). The correspondence, a selection of Thomas Jefferson’s papers, transcribed and edited by Thomas Jefferson Randolph and other Jefferson family members, was published in a four-volume set as Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies from the papers of Thomas Jefferson in 1829.