2383. EDITORS, Jefferson's Relations with.—
In your letter it is said that, for certain
services performed by Mr. James Lyon
and Mr. Samuel Morse, formerly editors of
the Savannah Republican, I promised them
the sum of one thousand dollars. This is
totally unfounded. I never promised to any
printer on earth the sum of one thousand dollars,
nor any other sum, for certain services
performed, or for any services which that
expression would imply. I have had no accounts
with printers but for their newspapers,
for which I have paid always the ordinary
price and no more. I have occasionally joined
in moderate contributions to printers, as I
have done, to other descriptions of persons,
distressed or persecuted, not by promise, but
the actual payment of what I contributed.—
To James L. Edwards. Washington ed. vi, 8.
(M.
1811)
