Description:

Thomas Jefferson
Washington, DC, February 23, 1804
Thomas Jefferson as Pres. to Robert E. Lee's Father-In-Law Re: Potomac Bridge to His Plantation With 60 Slaves!
ALS

THOMAS JEFFERSON, Autograph Letter Signed, to George W. P. Custis, February 23, 1804, Washington, DC. 1 p., 8.125" x 9.875". General toning; expected folds.

President Thomas Jefferson wrote this letter to George W. P. Custis, who had suggested the construction of a bridge across the Potomac River to the plantation he had recently inherited from his father's estate. Custis had begun construction of Arlington House overlooking the Potomac River. Sixty years later, the federal government seized the plantation and mansion from his son-in-law, Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and created Arlington National Cemetery.

Jefferson declined to advocate for any particular location for a bridge, which was then under discussion in the House of Representatives. Four years later, Congress authorized a company to erect the Long Bridge. A bridge directly from his plantation to Washington would simplify and make cheaper the transport of his crops to market in Washington.

Complete Transcript
"Washington Feb. 23, 04.
Sir:
On the reciept of your letter I rode to the Hamburg hill [inserted above line in different hand: *] from whence you suppose a bridge may be advantageously thrown across the river. comparing this with the other positions, below and above, which have been proposed, I observe that in proportion as they lengthen the road they shorten the bridge. it will rest with the legislature to decide at which place or places they will authorize the establishment of a bridge. the inhabitants of Georgetown think their interests will be much injured by any bridge below their port. in this clashing of interests between different points of the territory to all of which I sincerely wish prosperity, I hold myself aloof from medling, no law calling on me to do otherwise. should it be made my duty to take any part in it, I shall certainly place every local interest out of view and regard the general interest only. Accept my salutations and respect.
Th: Jefferson".

[In a different hand:] "*Now the Observatory
George W. Custis esquire".

Historical Background
In early 1804, the House of Representatives was considering a petition to establish a company to build a bridge across the Potomac River between the southwest end of Maryland Avenue and "Alexander's Island." Another petition from Georgetown opposed that location as detrimental to the trade of Georgetown. On February 13, 1804, Custis wrote from his estate, Mount Washington (currently the site of Arlington National Cemetery), to President Thomas Jefferson, "to propose for your consideration whether the ground immediately below the spot intended for the University & from thence to any part of the Mt Washington Estate may not afford as desirable a situation as any other." The "spot intended" for a national university in Washington was a hill overlooking the Potomac, where the Old Naval Observatory was located from 1844 to 1893, just east of Theodore Roosevelt Island. The bridge Custis proposed would have crossed the Potomac River northwest of the current Arlington Memorial Bridge, built in 1932.

The House of Representatives reached no decision on the question before the end of the session. In February 1808, Congress authorized the Washington Bridge Company, and President Jefferson signed the act into law. The company built a wooden toll bridge called the "Washington Bridge" from the foot of Maryland Avenue to Alexander's Island, which opened in 1809 for foot, horse, and stagecoach traffic. In 1831, the federal government purchased the bridge, and it continued in operation until an 1870 flood damaged it irreparably.

George Washington Parke Custis (1781-1857) was born in Maryland as the son of John Parke Custis (1754-1781), the stepson of George Washington, making him the adopted grandson of George Washington. After his father died after the Battle of Yorktown, he grew up at George Washington's estate, Mount Vernon. During the undeclared war with France, Custis served as a second lieutenant in the Light Dragoons and as an aide-de-camp to Major General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. When he reached age 21, Custis inherited a large fortune from his father's estate, including a plantation along the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia. There, he built the Greek Revival mansion Arlington House (1803-1818) as a shrine to George Washington. He preserved and displayed many of Washington's belongings in this mansion. His daughter Mary Anna Custis Lee (1807-1873) married Robert E. Lee in 1831. They inherited Arlington House and the plantation, but the federal government confiscated it during the Civil War and converted a portion of it into Arlington National Cemetery.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

  • Dimensions: 8.125" x 9.875"
  • Medium: ALS

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

February 18, 2026 10:00 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000